Disinfo: NATO membership is a big mistake for Finland, Sweden; Alliance is collapsing

Summary

People in Finland and Sweden do not understand what they need to join NATO for. It will be a big mistake for them. Deployment of offensive weapons near Russia is a suicidal idea because Russia is a nuclear power. NATO troops may appear near St Petersburg. Finland and Sweden are being dragged into a collapsing alliance.

Disproof

This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets about NATO enlargement.

In reality, Finland and Sweden decided to apply for NATO membership after Russia again unleashed a war of aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022. By doing so, these two countries are enhancing their security and protect themselves from Russian threats.

NATO and its members deploy military capabilities on the territory of member states in accordance with military plans and operational tasks.

NATO is a defensive alliance and not a threat to Russia. It does not plan to use any kind of these weapons against Russia unless Russia decides to attack a NATO member first. It does not intend to land its troops near St Petersburg or anywhere else in Russia. However, an attack against one ally is considered as an attack against all allies. Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty reads:

“The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.”

The alliance is also a political organisation, which aims at solving conflicts by peaceful means. The two sides signed the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security between NATO and the Russian Federation in 1997, one of whose provisions reads: “NATO and Russia do not consider each other as adversaries.”

NATO is not a collapsing alliance. It is robust and active. NATO troops carry out their tasks properly, including peacekeeping operations. The alliance is open to any European state in a position to further the principles of the North Atlantic Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area.

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

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publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 290
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 12/05/2022
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Russia, Finland, Sweden
  • Keywords: NATO, EU/NATO enlargement, Anti-Russian, Russophobia
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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.