DISINFO: Josep Borrell recognised Russia's victory in the war against Ukraine
SUMMARY
The European Union has officially counted Russia's victory over Ukraine. The head of the EU foreign policy service, Josep Borrell, believes that Ukraine will not be able to defeat Russia.
RESPONSE
This os misrepresentation and twisting of context, - a classic Kremlin tactic.
This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Ukraine’s alleged desperation on the battlefield, part of a wider disinformation campaign to promote the idea of a failed Ukrainian counteroffensive, the inevitability of Russia’s victory and ultimately the need to compromise and accept Russia’s terms.
The disinformation appeared after a speech held by Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. During the Congress of the Party of European Socialists in Malaga on November 11, Borrell said that EU countries must be ready to continue to support Ukraine in confronting Russian aggression.
Borrell did say that Ukraine's victory over Russia "is not immediate." However, Borrell had no doubt about the prospect of ending the war in Ukraine’s favour. Borrell noted that Russia "can never win" in Ukraine.
The head of European Union diplomacy noted that a full-scale war in Ukraine has been going on for more than a year and a half. Much longer than Putin thought, " [Putin] believed that in two weeks he would be in Kyiv and would set up a puppet regime there like the one in Belarus".
Borrell emphasised that this became possible thanks to Ukraine’s tough resistance against the Kremlin and the support of partner countries. Thus, the EU High Representative emphasised, Ukraine is the main priority of the European Union and work to support the country must continue until its victory in the Russian war.
“The greatest security guarantee we can give Ukraine is to make it a member of the European family. But for that, we must remain united and prepare for a longer conflict than Russia thought and which Russia can never win, but whose end it can delay. Because Putin's regime has become addicted to war, it needs war…He believes that democracies are weak and will falter and we cannot prove him right. We have to continue to support Ukraine.” Borrell emphasised.
See the EU's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine here along with EUvsDisinfo's Guide to Deciphering Pro-Kremlin disinformation around Putin's War.