DISINFO: NATO is responsible for Russia's war against Ukraine

DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS

DISINFO: NATO is responsible for Russia's war against Ukraine

SUMMARY

One might argue that NATO states did not fire first, but they ensured that firing would occur. The invasion was a threatening gesture. In retrospect, the technology and troop size were insufficient to take over Ukraine. The goal was to push for negotiations, which was achieved. Four days after Russia’s invasion, talks began on February 28, 2022, in Belarus. The agreement reached in Türkiye in spring 2022 provided for Ukraine to return to neutrality, including renouncing NATO membership, fulfilling a Russian demand from 2008.

The West sabotaged this agreement. The Western alliance, including Germany, aims for a prolonged conflict, making Ukraine pay a high price.

RESPONSE

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and NATO. The article claims that NATO is responsible for Russia initiating its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Russia is the only country responsible for the invasion of Ukraine. It has been coming up with different manipulative explanations and false pretexts for its aggression since the beginning of its hostilities. It cited denazifying and demilitarising Ukraine as well as ensuring its neutral status as among the main reasons for the full-scale invasion at the beginning. Protecting the residents of the self-proclaimed separatist entities in Eastern Ukraine from alleged genocide and imposing the use of the Russian language in Ukraine were also cited. Ukraine was also accused of failing to implement the Minsk accords, although it was Russia and its proxies in the region who were blocking the process of normalisation.

Western nations have always called to solve problems with Russia in a peaceful and diplomatic manner while upholding the rules-based international order. Moscow’s overall aggressive policy has led to a tougher and better-balanced policy towards it by the West.

See also the Guide to Deciphering Pro-Kremlin disinformation around Putin's War and The Chilling Background to the Kremlin's "No War" trope.

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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