Disinfo: Most European countries do not share the Polish opinion about the “Russian aggression” in Donbas

Summary

In terms of Donbas, Warsaw continues to use military rhetoric introduced by the former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. The official Polish documents and statements speak about “Russian aggression”, but this point of view is not shared by most European countries.

Disproof

One of the most common disinformation narratives about the military conflict in Donbas, promoting the message that Russia has nothing to do with the war in Ukraine and that the international community does not accuse Russia of any aggression against Ukraine.

All EU and NATO member states share the opinion that Russia continues to implement direct military aggression against Ukraine in Donbas and Crimea.

There is irrefutable evidence of direct Russian military involvement in Eastern Ukraine. The EU has condemned the clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity by acts of aggression by the Russian armed forces since February 2014. In addition, Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted in 2015 Russia's military presence in Ukraine.

See similar cases connected to the War in Donbas: Germany, France and Ukraine admitted that they need a war in Donbas, Russia isn’t and wasn’t involved in the Donbas conflict and Moscow did not interfere in the armed conflict in Donbas.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 225
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 29/12/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Polish
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: EU, Poland, Ukraine, Russia
  • Keywords: Eastern Ukraine, Anti-Russian, Petro Poroshenko, Donbas, War in Ukraine
see more

Disinfo: The real power in Ukraine is the US embassy

The real power in Ukraine is the US embassy. “If they (the US) need to push something, they summon the Ukrainian minister, give him instructions, then make a joint communiqué, then take a photo.”

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Ukraine not backed up with evidence, which is often claimed to be under external control from the US.

The US does not control Ukraine. Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected by most of the free world, confirmed by resolutions of the United Nations.

Disinfo: The Arab Spring was organised by the West

18 December 2010 is considered to be the starting point of the riots, unrest and uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa collectively referred to as the Arab Spring.

US and transnational foundations for democracy-promotion were operating in many of the countries where the Arab Spring began. Their activists, who had been trained years before, were at the epicentre of events and passed on colour revolution techniques to the local population. These activists had previously developed such techniques in the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Balkans.

But the attempt by the US and the West to reshape the Middle East and impose Western democracy on the region failed. It is important to note that ISIS emerged in 2013 as a result of the Arab Spring.

Disproof

Disinformation about the Arab Spring presented with no evidence. This article’s message is consistent with pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about popular protests around the world allegedly incited and funded by the US and other Western states, including colour revolutions in post-Soviet states, the Arab Spring revolts, Euromaidan in Ukraine, protests in Catalonia and others. This narrative claims that protests, disorders and civil uprisings are never manifestations of popular discontent but are "colour revolutions" directed and funded by Western intelligence services or other Western actors in order to destabilise targeted foreign states and bring about regime change.

When the Arab Spring revolts broke out throughout Northern Africa and the Middle East beginning in 2010-2011, Russian media increasingly spread conspiracy theories portraying the uprisings as nefarious “color revolutions” hatched in the United States. Senior Russia security and military officials claimed that the Arab Spring, which got much of its initial traction through social media such as Facebook and Twitter, was a new subversive methodology designed by Western intelligence services to destabilise societies and bring about regime change, first in the Arab world and subsequently in Russia itself.