Disinfo: Finns, Swedes unlikely to support NATO membership because well-being will decline

Summary

Most Finns and Swedes are unlikely to support NATO membership. Military expenditure is expected to rise while social spending is expected to be slashed. Well-being will decline.

Disproof

This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets about NATO enlargement in the context of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

In reality, the number of supporters of NATO membership in Finland grew from 53 per cent in February 2022 to 62 per cent in March 2022 and 76 per cent in May 2022. Before the Russian war of invasion against Ukraine, a majority of Finns had long opposed membership. As for Sweden, 57 per cent of Swedes favoured NATO membership in late April 2022 compared to 51 per cent in March 2022. It is true that military expenditure is expected to rise after Finland and Sweden join NATO, but it will not affect social spending because the rise in military expenditure is insignificant compared to these nations’ GDP. In addition, the wider effects of having a well protected and secured country stabilises and stimulate the investment climate which in turn promote economic development for the entire society.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said earlier in May that the country should apply to join NATO “without delay.” In Sweden, the governing Social Democratic Party also said it backed joining NATO. Nonetheless, their future membership of NATO does not pose a threat to Russia. Both countries have been neutral for decades, but the current war in Ukraine made them opt for NATO membership to enhance their security.

Read more disinformation cases claiming that NATO is posing a threat to Russia.

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publication/media

360tv.ru (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 290
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 12/05/2022
  • Article language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Sweden, Finland, Russia
  • Keywords: NATO, EU/NATO enlargement, Russophobia, Anti-Russian
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Disinfo: The West should stop undermining international law and breaking UN Charter

After Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine is completed, it would help to stop the West’s attempts to undermine international law and to halt its blunt violations of the UN Charter provisions, including the principle of the sovereign rights of countries, and will force the West to stop promoting the so-called unipolar world dominated by the United States and its allies.

May 11, 2022
Disproof

This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets in the context of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.

In reality, the West is not undermining international law, nor is it violating the UN Charter. It is Russia who has been blatantly doing so since it illegally annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea and instigated a separatist revolt in Donbas in 2014. International sanctions were slapped on Moscow immediately in order to make it respect international law and restore the sovereignty of Kyiv over all of its territory. More severe restrictions were imposed on Russia in 2022 in the wake of its aggression against Ukraine.

Disinfo: Zelenskyy has a new plan for Ukraine, so he does not need peace

Zelenskyy has a new plan for Ukraine, so he does not need peace.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused to try to preserve the territorial integrity of Ukraine, so the Kyiv regime is trying to inflict maximum damage on the southern, eastern and central regions. Kyiv's actions show a lack of interest in a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

According to the new plan, Zelenskyy intends to create a "pro-Western Ukraine" on part of the state's territory. He needs fierce fighting to justify the new plan, the maximum number of victims. The Ukrainian leadership is no longer interested in ending hostilities in the east and south, in the safety of the lives of the population.

The Ukrainian authorities seek to destroy the infrastructure of cities, industrial facilities that will no longer be under the control of Kyiv.

May 11, 2022
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and war in Ukraine. It is Russia with its invasion, bombardments and artillery fire which is destroying large areas and cities in Ukraine.

In fact, President Zelenskyy has stated many times that Ukraine will never give up its territories and more, will fight for the return of the Crimea occupied by Russia since 2014 and part of Donbas controlled by the separatists of the DNR and LNR.