DISINFO: The European Union intends to destroy Russia
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Josep Borrell Anti-Russian Diplomacy with Russia Destabilising Russia

DISINFO: The European Union intends to destroy Russia

SUMMARY

Josep Borrell, in addition to heading European diplomacy, is also a blogger. The other day blogger Borrell published on the official portal of the European Commission a post titled "How can we tame the power politics of the East?" The East means Russia, which the author of the publication intends to "tame".

Josep Borrell changed his diplomat's suit to that of a circus trainer, simultaneously changing the tone of the conversation and the vocabulary of the discussion. According to his post, the EU basically calls Russia an enemy and intends to prepare for further confrontation with Russia.

RESPONSE

Pro-Kremlin disinformation about the EU, ist external and foreign policies.

This disinformation message is a complete misinterpretation of EU High Represenative / Vice President Josep Borrell's words. Borrell did not use the word "tame". The post referred to is titled "Countering power politics in the East".

Russia was not called an enemy, moreover, the phrases allegedly taken from Borrell's article are a distorted interpretation of the author. There are also no calls for further confrontation with or intention to destroy Russia.

Analysing the current state of relations with Russia, (in the context of the situation in Ukraine) Borrell states that "it is a moment to be firm and united and to deter possible further Russian moves. The European Council agreed on sending a strong message to the Russian leadership that any action against Ukraine and those principles, by military or hybrid means, would have serious consequences."

This article and such claims are parts of the pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign about the EU, attempting to put the responsibility for the state of EU-Russia relations on Brussels, blaming the European Union for the deterioration of bilateral relations with Russia. In reality, the EU and its member states strive for dialogue with Russia to settle the existing problems and misperceptions.

Nevertheless, Russia remains a natural partner for the EU and a strategic player combating regional and global challenges. The EU’s approach to Russia is guided by five principles agreed in 2016 and reaffirmed, most recently, in June 2021. Read more about the recently proposed way forward in EU-Russia relations here.

See also similar cases with statements that the EU destroyed relations with Russia, that the EU is doing everything to make Russia move away from it, that Russia-EU relations were destroyed by unilateral decisions of Brussels.

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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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