Disinfo: Russia signed Molotv-Ribbentrop pact because it was threatened by Germany. Today Russia is threatened by Poland.

Summary

At some point Russia was threatened by Germany and we signed secret protocols of Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, in attempt to create some security for ourselves including in the territory of Poland. And now we see that threats are emanating from the territory of Poland. Polish people have given their country away to Germans in only two weeks. But today Poland is surely demonstrating aggression towards Russia.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the West encircling Russia and Poland's allegedly aggressive behaviour in particular. See previous case: Poland has aggressive intentions towards Russia. The disinformation message is combined with manipulation of historic facts. Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (the Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) was on August 23, 1939. Its secret protocols divided Europe into German and Soviet spheres of influence. It foresaw the division of Poland and enabled Soviet Union to invade and annex the Baltic States. The Soviets also annexed Romania's provinces of Bessarabia (today's Moldova) and northern Bukovina (now in Ukraine) and the Czechoslovak territory of Carpathian Ruthenia (also now in Ukraine). Throughout the territories it occupied, the Soviet Union carried out harsh political reprisals, including mass executions and deportations. Soviets kept negotiating with Britain and France, but in the end Stalin chose to reach an agreement with Germany. By doing so he hoped to keep the Soviet Union at peace with Germany and to gain time to build up the Soviet military establishment, which had been weakened by the purge of the Red Army officer corps in 1937. Read more about the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact: Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact: A 'honeymoon' for two dictators (Deutche Welle); The Night Stalin and Hitler Redrew the Map of Europe (RFERL).

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Pervyi Kanal - YouTube (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 154
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 13/06/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Poland
  • Keywords: Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Encircling Russia, WWII
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Disproof

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Disproof

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Disproof

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