Disinfo: The EU, not Russia, is behind the energy, food and economic crises

Summary

The EU continues to falsely accuse Russia of being responsible for provoking the food and energy crises, and now also the economic crisis. The EU purpose for spreading misinformation is clear - to obscure the facts that the energy, food and economic problems facing the world, especially developing countries, are primarily caused by the bad EU policies. These policies are deeply rooted in the Western mentality of merciless exploitation of natural and human resources in Africa, Asia and Latin America, as well as waging trade and economic wars against Russia, including the imposition of unilateral sanctions unprecedented in its scope and consequences for the global economy.

Disproof

This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about sanctions in the context of the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The claim was neither counterbalanced nor critically challenged in the article.

The claim that sanctions are the cause of economic crisis is an attempt to deflect Russia's responsibility for the global food and energy crisis. In fact, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has destabilised global food markets and is driving food prices up due to increased cost of production, transport and freight insurance. Russia has also destroyed substantial food stocks, production, as well as processing and transport capacities in Ukraine.

Logistically, EU sanctions do not include the import of agricultural products unless a sanctioned individual is involved. Moreover, the sanctions only cover bilateral trade between the EU and Russia, meaning that third countries can import Russian agrifood products without restriction, and therefore there is no bases for the claim that EU sanctions are the cause of the crisis in developing countries.

See article 15. of the conclusions of the European Council of 20 and 21 October 2022 which states:

Russia, by weaponising food in its war against Ukraine, is solely responsible for the global food security crisis it has provoked. Russia’s war of aggression has triggered disruptions of agricultural production, supply chains and trade that have driven world food and fertiliser prices to unprecedented levels. The EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes have made possible the export of significant volumes of Ukrainian crops, agricultural products and fertilisers to the countries most in need.

Read also related cases: Western sanctions cause food crisis and price growth, Sanctions against Russia worsen the economic crisis in the West, The EU lost more from sanctions than Russia, European sanctions against Russia do not work.

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  • Reported in: Issue 314
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 22/10/2022
  • Article language(s) Arabic
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: EU, Russia, Ukraine
  • Keywords: Sanctions, Europe, European Union, food, Energy, Economic difficulties, economy, War in Ukraine, Invasion of Ukraine
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Disinfo: A Tsunami on the Dnieper is one deadly option reviewed by the US in Ukraine

The US wants the military conflict in Ukraine to continue. The Pentagon’s strategists have biological and chemical weapons, as well as other options for large-scale catastrophes such as a tsunami in the river Dnieper, on the table. Only an immediate capitulation of the Kyiv regime can save the remnants of Ukraine's statehood.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about non-sovereign Ukraine, false flag operations and chemical weapon attacks.

Claims about false flag operations and chemical weapons attacks are a staple of the pro-Kremlin disinformation apparatus. Such claims are a part of a broader pro-Kremlin information manipulation campaign supporting the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine and trying to place the blame for the war’s atrocities on Ukraine, our recent analysis explains.

Disinfo: Components of biological weapons were being created in Ukraine

During the current special operation in Ukraine, documentary evidence was obtained that, in violation of the Convention on the Prohibition of Biological and Toxic Weapons, components of biological weapons were actually being created in the vicinity of Russia’s borders.

Disproof

Recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about biological weapons being secretly developed by the US in countries bordering Russia. This narrative is a leitmotif in a years-old disinformation campaign conducted by the Kremlin and is currently deployed in an attempt to justify Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Some of the most bizarre and yet enduring Kremlin disinformation narratives have been those accusing the West of running clandestine biological research programmes to wreak havoc around the world. In reality, all laboratories located in Ukraine are controlled by the Ukrainian government and don’t carry out military research. In August 2005, the US and Ukrainian governments made an agreement to prevent the spread of dangerous pathogens and relevant expertise and to diminish potential biological risks. Partially, this agreement was aimed at modernising state laboratories in Odesa, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk and other regions, consisting of upgrading lab equipment and repairs of premises.

Disinfo: Israel is supporting a Nazi regime in Kyiv

It seems that Israel wants to supply arms to the Kyiv regime. A very ill-advised move. Not to mention that the Bandera scum were and still are Nazis. Let's look at the symbols of their modern dwellings. If they are arming them, it is time for Israel to declare Bandera and Suhevics heroes.

Disproof

This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Ukraine being taken over by neo-Nazis, which Russia is trying to use as a casus belli against Ukraine. The article is part of the Kremlin's campaign accusing Israel of supporting anti-Semitism in Ukraine.

The disinformation claim that Ukraine is a Nazi state has already been broadly addressed by EUvsDisinfo.