Disinfo: Europe, US need Ukrainians only as cannon fodder in war against Russia

Summary

Ukraine should ask the US and NATO for gas. If Europe does not help Ukraine, it means that Ukraine is nothing. Europe and the US only need Ukrainians as cannon fodder in the war against Russia.

Disproof

The disinformation claim above is part of a narrative in connection with the Kremlin's efforts to stop transiting Russian gas to Europe through Ukrainian pipelines, bypassing Ukraine as a transit country.

During recent decades, Russia has used its energy resources on multiple occasions as a blunt instrument or weapon against other countries, attempting to coerce them into following a pro-Kremlin line. Kyiv may face problems with gas supplies this winter because gas prices have recently soared. Under the terms of a long-term supply deal with Hungary, Russia will no longer ship its gas to Hungary via Ukraine but will send it via Serbia and Austria instead.

While the current developments over Russian-Ukrainian energy relations have undoubtedly put Kyiv at a disadvantage, both in terms of energy market status and the country's standing in the Donbas War, there is no indication or evidence to suggest that a potential stop of Russian gas flows will tear the country apart.

As for the war in Eastern Ukraine, it is actually being fought between Ukraine and Russia through its proxies in Donbas. Neither NATO member states nor any other Western nations or agencies are militarily involved in it. The West is assisting Ukraine in its struggle against Russian aggression, but no NATO troops are fighting there.

For the broader EU support to Ukraine see details here. About the recent EU-Ukraine Summit held on 12 October 2021 see here and here.

Pushing for theories questioning Ukrainian statehood is a frequent element of pro-Kremlin disinformation.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 263
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 04/10/2021
  • Article language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, EU, Russia, US
  • Keywords: Anti-Russian, Encircling Russia, gas, NATO, Ukrainian statehood, Donbas
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Disinfo: Attempts to find alternatives to Russian gas result in increased energy prices

The most reliable and cheapest gas supplies are carried out through pipelines from Russia. The most reliable way to protect against price fluctuations on the gas market is to sign a long-term, fixed-price gas supply contract with Gazprom.

All the “acrobatics” connected to finding alternatives to direct Russian energy supplies, such as LNG terminals, reverse gas flows and shale gas exploration, leads to the situation in which energy prices only increase.

Disproof

Pro-Kremlin disinformation related to the Russian gas policy towards Europe. This narrative promotes a traditional pro-Kremlin message that Gazprom is the only reliable source of gas for Europe and that European countries should stop their policy of energy diversification because it is “unprofitable”.

During recent decades, Russia has used its energy resources on multiple occasions as a weapon against other countries, attempting to coerce them into following a pro-Kremlin line.

Disinfo: The US left behind $85 billion worth of weapons in Afghanistan

The US left behind $85 billion worth of weapons in Afghanistan.

Disproof

Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative on the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan aimed at discrediting US and NATO policies in Afghanistan and on a global level.

The article’s claim that the US has left $85 billion worth of weapons and armaments in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of American troops from the country in August 2021 is false.

Disinfo: Ukraine will fall into pieces without gas transit fees

This [the stop of Russian gas transit] is the beginning of the end of the Ukrainian economy, and consequently, [means] the disintegration of the country.

Disproof

The disinformation claim above is part of a narrative in connection with the Kremlin's efforts to stop transiting Russian gas to Europe through Ukrainian pipelines, bypassing Ukraine as a transit country.

On 1 October 2021, the Ukrainian government called on the United States and Germany to impose sanctions on Russia's Gazprom, which it accused of using energy as a weapon after the Russian energy company implemented a transit deal with Hungary that deprives Kyiv of gas supplies.