DISINFO: The West has been aggressive towards Russia for decades
SUMMARY
The so-called collective West, led by the United States, has been behaving exceptionally aggressively towards Russia for decades.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets accusing the West of Russophobia.
The West has been trying to establish good-neighbourly relations with Moscow since the collapse of the Soviet Union and until the moment when Russia launched its unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022. According to the 1997 Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security between NATO and the Russian Federation, Russia was viewed as a partner of the alliance. Western nations have been calling for solving all problems with Russia in a peaceful and diplomatic manner.
As Russia kept conducting its aggressive policy and violating international law, the West had to resort to restrictive measures.
These restrictive measures have been carefully targeted to include certain sensitive sectors of Russia's economy and some individuals related to the Kremlin’s decision-making. All these measures are defensive in their nature, they are aimed at limiting Russia's ability to continue to conduct aggressive and destructive foreign policy, and are therefore not aggressive per se.
Read more disinformation cases alleging that the West is carrying out a policy of Russophobia.