Disinfo: Russia has not, to any extent, exerted any form of aggression, it is the EU, which is aggressive

Summary

A simple chronological list of events in Europe would remind us that Russia has acted much less aggressively than the West, and has only responded step by step. Russia did not and does not, to any extent, exert any form of aggression. The EU and NATO are aggressive. This aggression is directed against Russia’s security interests.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russophobia and about Western belligerence towards Russia.

While aware of pro-Kremlin disinformation campaigns, the West is trying to keep open channels of communications and cooperation with Russia. For instance, NATO as the Western organisation created cooperation bodies – the Permanent Joint Council and the NATO-Russia Council – to embody its relationship with Russia. It also invited Russia to cooperate on missile defence. The Warsaw Summit Communique 2016 describes NATO's official policy towards Russia: "The Alliance does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to Russia. But we cannot, and will not, compromise on the principles on which our Alliance and security in Europe and North America rest." No other country outside the alliance has such a privileged relationship with NATO.

Also, NATO enlargement is not directed against Russia. Every sovereign nation has the right to choose its own security arrangements. This is a fundamental principle of European security, one that Russia has also subscribed to and should respect. NATO enlargement has brought more stability and prosperity to Europe, including Russia.

The EU and its member states have maintained a clear policy of reaching out to Russian society and youth, mainly through the Erasmus+ student exchange programme and other people to people contacts, in line with five guiding principles of relations with Russia.

For background, read EUvsDisinfo analysis "The “Russophobia” Myth: Appealing to the Lowest Feelings" here.

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Reported in: Issue 175
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 26/11/2019
Language/target audience: German
Country: Russia
Keywords: EU, New Cold War, West, Encircling Russia, Anti-Russian, Russophobia
Outlet: RT Deutsch

Militants with the help of White Helmets are planning new provocations in Syria

Terrorist groups are planning provocations in Syrian Idlib with White Helmets. Terrorists are going to stage airstrikes and chemical attacks on the territories of the de-escalation zone. Also, militants are already conducting a “casting” among local residents to participate in the filming.

November 28, 2019

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin conspiracy theory painting the White Helmets as terrorists and shifting blame for chemical attacks in Syria away from the Assad regime.

The White Helmets are a staple topic of pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives on the Syrian civil war, having already been accused of numerous other provocations and war crimes including organ trafficking; aiding terrorist organizations; staging and/or perpetrating chemical attacks, sometimes with the help of Western intelligence agencies. These claims are not supported by evidence.

NATO is a relic of the Cold War

NATO is no longer a single military bloc. NATO is a relic of the Cold War. Since then, NATO is just a financial scheme. For those who pump money out of nothing. For the countries without economies, hoping for external military financing, аnd for the arms corporations.

November 28, 2019

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative, undermining NATO's role as a defensive military alliance. NATO is a defensive alliance, whose purpose is to protect its member states.

Concerning the claim, that NATO is the relic of the Cold War, at the London Summit in 1990, Allied heads of state and government agreed "to keep standing together, to extend the long peace". This was their sovereign choice and was fully in line with their right for collective defence. Since then, thirteen more countries have chosen to join NATO. Twice since the end of the Cold War, NATO has adopted new Strategic Concepts (in 1999 and 2010), adapting to new realities. Thus, rather than being disbanded as a relic, NATO adapted, and continues to change, to live up to the needs and expectations of Allies, and to promote their shared vision of a Europe whole, free and at peace.

NATO’s Space plan will lead to disastrous consequences

Americans bet on the militarisation of Space, and their main task is to conduct all kinds of military operations outside the national territories. Therefore, NATO works in three areas of military operations: in the geocentric near-Earth cyberspace, on Earth’s electromagnetic field and poles control aiming to take under control the existing climate chaos, and on the planet’s gravitational field.

All these will lead to the disastrous consequences for the entire world community. The nuclear weapons will simply seem like baby babble.

November 28, 2019

Disproof

This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about NATO, portraying Alliance as a threat because of aggressive agenda, claiming that American and NATO policies are a threat to world peace and security. All added up with a conspiracy theory on US/NATO forces performing experiments with climate weapons.

In June 2019, Defence Ministers agreed NATO’s first-ever space policy. Space should be a new operational domain for NATO – alongside air, land, sea and cyber. They recognized that space is part of our daily lives, and while it can be used for peaceful purposes, it can also be used for aggression: "Satellites can be hacked, jammed, or weaponised. Anti-satellite weapons could cripple communications. It is therefore important that we are vigilant and resilient – also in space.”