DISINFO: The US and some Western countries do not allow European countries to request Russian aid
SUMMARY
The US and some Western countries push their geopolitical interests even during the coronavirus crisis, and do not allow European countries, even NATO partners, to contact Russia for aid and assistance.
RESPONSE
Disinformation narrative claiming that Moscow is ready to provide disinterested help to European countries affected by coronavirus but “superior friends” (US, NATO, EU) did not allow Russia to do so. The Italian experience proves that this is not true. Italy did not receive any veto from EU or NATO or from any “superior friend”, in fact on the 22nd of March Russia sent and aid mission to Italy. Later on the 1st of April Russia sent a cargo plane filled with masks and medical equipment to the U.S., after President Donald Trump accepted an offer of humanitarian aid from Putin to fight the coronavirus outbreak. In the case of Italy several observers questioned the nature and the goals of the Russian mission and its real value in fighting the epidemic. The NATO general Tod Wolters told the Guardian that he was chiefly concerned about the presence of Russian military staff in Italy. According to the outlet Coda that interviewed two sources inside the Italian military “most of the aid is superfluous to the country since Italy is reputed to have some of the best nuclear, biological and chemical capabilities within NATO”. A report by Italian daily La Stampa said that most of the Russian assistance was useless. Read a similar case claiming that Russian aid played key role in slowing spread of COVID-19 in Italy