Disinfo: EU uses CIS to contain Russia by all means: financial, economic, military

Summary

The EU uses the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to contain Russia. All means are used - from financial and economic to military ones. By granting Ukraine and Moldova the status of candidates, the Union confirmed that it continues the line of active geopolitical exploration of the Commonwealth space.

Disproof

This is a mix of several recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about belligerent West trying to encircle Russia, to divide post-Soviet countries and to isolate Russia.

As for the relations of the EU and CIS countries, they are based on mutual consent, bilateral interests and benefits. More, they are not directed against third parties. For example, the Eastern Partnership (EaP) is a joint policy initiative that aims to deepen and strengthen relations between the European Union (EU) and its Eastern neighbours: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Belarus has suspended its participation as of June 2021.

The EU recognises the strategic importance of Central Asia, which links the huge Asian continent with Europe. As the EU is working to make relations with Central Asia stronger and deeper, the European Union’s engagement with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan has developed significantly since the countries' independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The EU does not impose any action or programme on the partner countries. The overall aim of cooperation is to build a common area of shared democracy, prosperity and stability in line with each individual country's aspirations. Involvement in the EU initiatives does not exclude membership in the Eurasian Economic Union, CIS or CSTO.

After the annexation of Crimea to Russia 2014, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine decided to terminate Ukraine's chairmanship in the CIS, and started the process of completely ending its participation in the structures of the CIS. In 2019 Ukraine actually completed its withdrawal from CIS. Ukraine began intensive denunciation of various agreements with the CIS due to European integration and the process of accession of Ukraine to the European Union. On 28 February 2022, shortly after it was invaded by Russia, Ukraine applied for membership of the European Union.

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Moldova is considering whether to continue being a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) amid Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine. Moldova applied for membership in the European Union in March.

In June 2022 EC granted EU candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova

Go to search

publication/media

tlgrm.ru (Archived)
tlgrm.ru (Archived)
Moskva 24 (Archived)
rg.ru (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 297
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 24/06/2022
  • Article language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Russia, Ukraine, Moldova
  • Keywords: CIS, West, European Union, Encircling Russia, Maria Zakharova, Anti-Russian, Diplomacy with Russia
see more

Disinfo: The EU is a cover-up for the anti-Russian game of Anglo-Saxons

Following Russia's special military operation, Ukraine was granted EU candidate status. Does it mean that Europe has started believing in the ability to tear Ukraine away from Russia and to move the borders of Europe and the Russian world? Europe is incapable of answering this question. Since the end of WWII, Europe has been under Anglo-Saxon control. Its geopolitical dependence leaves it with no sovereign choice.

The influence of NATO and pro-Atlantic forces in the EU has turned out to be stronger than the national interests of Europeans. The EU was forced to claim Ukraine and to get involved in the war with Russia on Ukrainian territory. The EU is becoming a cover-up for the Anglo-Saxon game against Moscow.

Jun 23, 2022
Disproof

The article promotes different, well-known Kremlin disinformation tropes: it distorts the EU-Ukraine relations and ongoing events in Ukraine. Further, it touts a recurring pro-Kremlin propaganda narrative about lost sovereignty / external control, specifically about the EU's dependence on the US and so-called "Anglo-Saxons". The article also uses the "Russian world" concept - the modified imperial Russian and Russian revanchist ideology that is aimed at weakening the national identity of Ukrainians, as well as undermining the state sovereignty.

In reality, the respective EU decision to grant Ukraine a candidate status, as well as sanctions imposed in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, were adopted unanimously by all 27 EU member states. Sovereign decisions of the European nations and the EU regarding their domestic and foreign policies are often presented in pro-Kremlin media as an Anglo-Saxon provocation.

Disinfo: Russia has legitimate territorial claims over Curonian and Vistula Spits, Klaipeda

Russia should not be scared of the EU's provocation with the blockade of transit between the Kaliningrad region and mainland Russia. Instead, the initiators of this madness should be scared given that most countries which neighbor Russia for centuries were part of the Russian empire or other states. Eyeing Russian territories can result in the loss of the Curonian and Vistula Spits which currently partly belong, respectively, to Lithuania and Poland. Russia has the right to own both spits entirely.

Moreover, the issue of Klaipeda's belonging should also be raised. Lithuania stole the city; there are no documents which regulated the accession of Klaipeda to Lithuania. Hence, once the agreements regulating the transit between Kaliningrad and mainland Russia cease to be functioning, Russia could consider the treaty on borders with Lithuania annuled and void as well. In case of a military conflict, Lithuania would be crushed within several days and stop existing as an independent country in the current borders.

Jun 23, 2022
Disproof

This publication promotes false claims concerning the territorial integrity of Lithuania and Poland and threatens them. It misrepresents the recent diplomatic row over the transit of Russian goods through Lithuania to Kalininrgrad.

There is no talk about territorial claims towards Russia as the article implies. The issue concerns the application of EU sanctions. As explained here in more detail, a set of EU sanctions adopted back in mid-March 2022 came into effect on 17 June, prohibiting the import and transit of certain iron and steel products originating from Russia. That said, the transit of passengers and non-sanctioned goods to and from the Kaliningrad region through Lithuania continues uninterrupted, and land transit between Kaliningrad and other parts of Russia has not been stopped.

Disinfo: The food crisis has nothing to do with the Russian special operation

The food crisis has nothing to do with the Russian special operation in Ukraine. This is already recognised in the United States, representatives of international organisations. The crisis and the prerequisites for it arose a few years ago. Then the Western countries began to pursue an imprudent and thoughtless populist policy.

Jun 23, 2022
Disproof

This is a Russian manipulative attempt to deflect responsibility for the growing food crisis and supply insecurity blaming the West for populist policies.

Russia's responsibility for the global food crisis comes as a consequence of the unprovoked and unjustified Russian invasion of Ukraine: naval blockade of Ukrainian posts, bombardment of transport infrastructure and shelling of farming regions.