DISINFO: NATO-Ukraine Council spreads propaganda and disinformation
SUMMARY
The NATO-Ukraine Council’s statement of 24 February 2024 is a classic example of anti-Russian propaganda and disinformation. Everything is presented in a false light. Russia is again accused of an ‘invasion’, the ‘illegal annexation’ of Crimea, ‘intervention’ in Donbas, and ‘efforts to undermine Ukraine’s statehood.’ However, the blow to Ukraine’s statehood was dealt by an anti-constitutional coup, inspired and supported by the West.
RESPONSE
This case may contain graphic/distressing content.
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets accusing NATO of Russophobia and aggressive intentions as to Russia. This claim was made in the context of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The NATO-Ukraine Council issued a statement on 24 February 2024 to mark ‘two years of Russia’s brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and ten years since Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and initial military intervention in the Donbas.’ This statement contains no disinformation because Russia has really committed these and other crimes in Ukraine. Mass killings, torture and forced deportations of Ukrainian children to the Russian Federation have also been committed. There is a huge amount of evidence and information about the atrocities Russian troops have committed during Moscow's unprovoked and unjustified aggression. Dozens of civilians were found in a mass grave in Bucha in April 2022. Similar cases have been documented in the Kharkiv Region and other places.
Contrary to Russian propagandists’ statements claiming that Crimea joined Russia as a result of a peaceful referendum in 2014, it was a military annexation. The illegal referendum was held at gunpoint in the presence of the Russian military. After the illegal annexation of Crimea, Russia instigated a separatist revolt in some parts of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk Regions. In February 2022, Putin groundlessly accused Ukraine of committing genocide of people residing in those regions and launched the invasion. He also cited other false pretexts for his aggression (see our article Thirteen myths about Russia’s war against Ukraine exposed). His and other Russian leaders’ numerous statements claiming that Ukraine is part of Russia are attempts to deny Ukraine the right to exist as an independent and sovereign state. See also our article Hate speech and calls for genocide in Putin’s Russia.
Ukraine is receiving weapons and financial support from a broad coalition of more than 50 nations including the EU, the US and their allies in order to stand up to Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked aggression. The aim of Ukraine is to liberate all of its occupied territories and return to the internationally recognised borders of 1991. Ukraine is acting in self-defence against the Russian invasion as enshrined in the UN Charter Article 51.
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