DISINFO: The war in Ukraine is part of a US project for global hegemony
SUMMARY
The conflict in Ukraine is highlighting US ambition to preserve its hegemony, and how Washington and its allies intend to use this crisis to achieve strategic benefits. Is the war only about Ukraine, or is this a project for the world based on the rules of a single country? The moment of truth has arrived for international relations: either we live under UN rules or we accept that only one country, along with its satellites, decides the fate of humankind.
RESPONSE
By trying to put the blame on the US for the war in Ukraine, this disinformation narrative aims to deflect Russia’s responsibility for its unprovoked military aggression against a peaceful neighbouring country. Russia has been coming up with different explanations and pretexts as the situation evolved. Denazifying and demilitarising Ukraine as well as ensuring its neutral status were among the main reasons for the military aggression. 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.
The claim that the West allegedly provoked the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine is one of the key messages of Putin’s disinformation. It was Putin’s personal decision to invade Ukraine and start the largest military conflict in Europe since WWII. The US and EU did not aim to escalate relations with Russia and were not preparing for military conflict. Western nations have always called to solve problems with Russia in a peaceful and diplomatic manner. Moscow’s overall aggressive policy has led to a tougher and better-balanced policy towards it by the West.
The EU condemned in the strongest possible terms Russia's unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine and imposed the toughest restrictive measures on Russia. Read more about the EU response and support for Ukraine.
For further information, see also the Guide to Deciphering Pro-Kremlin disinformation around Putin's War and The Chilling Background to the Kremlin's "No War" trope.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that Russia’s operation in Ukraine stems from the West’s desire to dominate the world, that Ukraine is a springboard for the West in its confrontation with Russia, or that the West is planning to isolate Russian economy and cause its degradation.
This disinformation message appeared in the same TV programme as the claim that “Russia is depicted as a global threat, but it was Moscow who called for security treaties and peaceful coexistence”.