Disinfo: European sanctions against Russia cost tens of billion euros to French farmers

Summary

The European sanctions are unfair and counterproductive. The French economy and agriculture have lost tens of billions of euros due to these sanctions.

Disproof

Recurrent disinformation message against European sanctions labelling them as unfair and counterproductive and claiming that they hurt Europeans while benefitting Russian economy.

According to research into the effect of sanctions, the cumulative export loss to Russia during 2014-2018 is estimated at EUR 30 billion (about -0.2% of EU’s GDP in 2018), and occurred largely during 2014-2016, as EU exports to Russia recovered in 2017. While these sanctions do affect the EU's economy, the EU-wide impacts of the export losses are estimated at less than 0.2% of total value-added and employment.

The exports on the Russian market of French agricultural products represented only about 3%, so sanctions did not necessarily lead to a loss since new markets were found for many products. Different evaluations of the loss that sanctions imply for the French and European agriculture have been made and vary between 200 million and a few billion but the meaning of those figures should be put in perspective because exports to Russia were reduced also for other reasons and new markets were opened.

Read also related cases: Sanctions are beneficial to Russia so the West should recognise Crimea as Russian, FT: Thanks to sanctions Russian agriculture strengthens its position in the world, EU sanctions fail to isolate Russia and isolate Europe instead, Western sanctions are illegal and hostile actions.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 263
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 12/10/2021
  • Article language(s) Russian, French
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Russia, France, EU
  • Keywords: Sanctions, Economic difficulties, economy
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Disinfo: Ukraine is under direct foreign control

The current government in Ukraine is under direct foreign control and there is no reason for Russia to try and find a common ground for better relations between the two countries. Ukrainian leaders are totally dependent on Washington and their country relies on cash infusions from the United States and the European Union.

Disproof

A recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about Ukraine being under alleged "external control".

Ukraine is an internationally recognised sovereign state with its own constitution, democratically elected parliament and president. Pro-Kremlin outlets often cast doubt on Ukrainian statehood and claim that Ukraine either does not exist as a state or is going to tumble down very soon.

Disinfo: Polish politicians use the imaginary Russian threat to appeal for national unity

The discussions of the Polish politicians are filled with phobias and warnings against imaginary dangers. Most of them are connected to such unrealistic issues as allegedly aggressive plans of the neighbours against Poland (primarily, the largest neighbour in the east). The sense of danger is supposed to justify appeals for national unity and to shut the mouths of all those who pay attention to real problems. The “war is going on”, so it is needed to have a cross-party unity.

Disproof

This message is a part of the Kremlin’s widespread narrative about Russophobic and anti-Russian Poland. The Kremlin-controlled outlets regularly accuse the Polish authorities of Russophobia and inspiration of the anti-Russian sentiments in order to reach particular domestic goals.

The Polish authorities perceive Russia as a security threat because of the aggressive Russian actions in particular on Crimea, Donbas and Eastern Europe.

Disinfo: US wants to turn Ukraine into ‘anti-Russia’

The US does not need anything from Ukraine but one thing – opposing and restraining Russia and creating an anti-Russia country.

Disproof

This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets, claiming that the West is using Ukraine as a springboard for aggression against Russia.

Ukraine, as a sovereign state, determines her foreign policy orientation. Kyiv’s cooperation with NATO has intensified since the illegal annexation of Crimea and outbreak of Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2014. The United States and Turkey supply it with weapons and military equipment (read here and here). Ukraine takes part in joint military exercises with NATO troops such as Sea Breeze, Rapid Trident and other war games. However, all these activities are not Russophobic. They are only defensive and aim at repelling a possible Russian attack.