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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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publication/media

RT Germany (Archived)
  • 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

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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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.

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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.”