Disinfo: "NATO-West" can only make war

Summary

With the participation of German soldiers in the largest NATO manoeuvre since the end of the Cold War against Russia, the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, is breaking a taboo that is likely to prevent the Russian Federation and the Russian people from achieving exactly what was made possible by grand gestures and rational action: lasting peace and possible reconciliation. The “NATO-West” cannot make peace, it can only make war, whether cold or hot. NATO’s manoeuvre, which begins at the end of January 2020, is a “manoeuvre of shame” that serves only the warmongers.

Disproof

This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about NATO's belligerence towards Russia, portraying the Alliance as a threat to peace.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg insisted that a massive transfer of US and allied troops to Eastern Europe as part of a military exercise "Defender 2020" was not aimed at Russia. “Defender Europe is not directed against any particular country. This defensive exercise demonstrates the ability to rapidly move a large force from the United States to Europe to help protect other NATO Allies if needed,” Stoltenberg said.

Jens Stoltenberg pointed out that there was nothing to be read into the fact that the exercise was taking place during 75th-anniversary celebrations, in Moscow, of Russia’s victory over Nazi Germany on 9 May. According to the NATO chief, the exercise will take place from February to June, this is the time when many military exercises are held each year. “We recognise the critical role played by the Soviet Union in the victory over Nazi Germany," said the NATO Secretary-General.

Read more similar cases alleging that NATO represents a threat to Russian security and that NATO prepares for a great conflict.

Go to search

publication/media

Sputnik Germany (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 183
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 22/01/2020
  • Outlet language(s) German
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Germany, US, Russia
  • Keywords: security threat, West, Military exercise, Anti-Russian, Encircling Russia, Jens Stoltenberg, NATO
see more

Disinfo: Hungary, Lithuania and Poland distort their Holocaust past and claim only Germans were responsible

A number of governments distort their countries’ Holocaust past, including Lithuania, Poland and Hungary, but there are “vocal minorities in other places as well”, where people insist that the Germans, not they themselves, were responsible for all anti-Jewish violence. […] Current Polish authorities try to wipe clean history to make it look more convenient.

Jan 21, 2020
Disproof

A recurrent pro-Kremlin narrative on anti-Semitism and an attempt to depict EU member states as anti-Semitic.

Anti-Semitism is a tragic part of European history, and few countries can claim never to have hosted anti-Semitic sentiment. There is also no doubt that the manifestations of anti-Semitism still can be encountered on in the European public discourse. EU and all member states have at several occasions clearly denounced anti-Semitism and committed to combating it.

Disinfo: The West is trying to destroy Russia by destroying the very understanding of truth

The West is trying to destroy Russia by destroying the very understanding of truth. The West is attempting to justify itself, because the West gave birth to the worse ideology ever to exists in the present, past, and possibly the future also – nazism. Nazism is absolute evil and is an absolute product of the West.

Jan 21, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the West rewriting history. Examples of similar disinformation narratives include Poland lies about WW2 to weaken Russia's position or Revision of the WW2 history is the state position of Warsaw.

Those narratives appear in the context of the approaching 75th anniversary since the end of the WW2.

Disinfo: European Union justifies Nazism

By passing resolutions that equate the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, the West is trying to acquit itself of the fact that it gave rise to the most terrible ideology that ever existed on earth – Nazism.

Jan 21, 2020
Disproof

Recurring disinformation narrative that attempts to portray the USSR's role in World War II as non-aggressive. This programme also contains the recurring pro-Kremlin narrative claiming that Western countries are Nazis or support Nazis. The European Union was set up with the aim of ending the frequent and bloody wars between neighbours, which culminated in the Second World War. The Nazi and fascist ideology and the EU are based on opposite values and principles. The European Union provides a consistent policy to combat racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance. Article No. 2 of the Treaty on European Union declares that "The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail." This is reflected in the Vienna Declaration (1993) to establish "the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance". It deals with issues related to fighting racism, discrimination (on grounds of “race”, ethnic/national origin, colour, citizenship, religion, language, sexual orientation and gender identity), xenophobia, anti-Semitism, and intolerance. On 25 October 2018, the European Parliament demanded the ban on neo-fascist and neo-Nazi groups in the EU. In a resolution passed with 355 votes to 90 and 39 abstentions, MEPs denounced the lack of serious action against these groups which enabled the current xenophobic surge in Europe.