Disinfo: The US Defender 2020 manoeuvre is directed against Russia

Summary

Thus, in addition to the US large-scale manoeuvre Defender Europe 2020, which is also directed against Russia by rehearsing the transfer of troops in the direction of the Russian border, the US-led manoeuvre BALTOPS 2020 will also be carried out over the Baltic Sea.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the West/ NATO threatening or encircling Russia and the US-led military exercise "Defender-Europe 2020", which is not aimed or targeted at Russia. US Major General Andrew Rohling Deputy Commanding General for the US Army in Europe, informs that the US-led exercise "Defender 2020" is an American exercise with 18 NATO partner countries. Rohling emphasises that the aim of the exercise is not to target any country, but rather to test strategic readiness and how to react to a crisis. Exercise Defender-Europe 2020 is the deployment of a division-size combat-credible force from the United States to Europe, the drawing of equipment and the movement of personnel and equipment across the Atlantic to various training areas in Europe, like Germany and Poland. With US Defender Europe 2020, the 18 participating NATO-countries are therefore practising procedures to ensure and demonstrate the ability to relocate and also to confirm the alliance's commitment to supporting and, in particular, to show the United States' commitment to Europe's security. For more information about the exercise: US Army Europe Website and updates from the Bundeswehr (German Army).

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RT Germany (old) (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 200
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 05/06/2020
  • Outlet language(s) German
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: US, Russia
  • Keywords: Defender Europe 2020, Encircling Russia
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Disinfo: The Guardian points to ruling elite as the real instigators of the US crisis

The publication The Guardian wrote about the fact that the pandemic or the murder of African American George Floyd are only elements of a centuries-old history of oppression by the ruling elites. Donald Trump, whose decisions took the modern America to disaster, is randomly called “the happy opportunist” in the publication. But much more important and more responsible of the crisis are those who stand out above presidents: the ruling elites that granted Trump his powers and kept him in the White House despite his dangerous incompetence, are responsible of what’s happening in the US. The forces of white anger and resentment will see how America destroys itself before allowing our own power to be weakened.

Jun 04, 2020
Disproof

This is a deliberate distortion of an op-ed by US historian Andrew Gawthorpe in The Guardian. The original article is a denunciation of the racial disparities and oppressions that divide the US and its cynical use by the leaders of the country “as a means of maintaining power”. It criticizes Donald Trump and “the forces which propelled him to power”, but he is clearly and specifically referring to the Republican Party. There is no mention of “ruling elites” who “stand above presidents”, which is a blatant attempt to link to the recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative of a “shadow government” directing world affairs above elected leaders. You can see other examples of this disinformation narrative in our database, such as unfounded stories about the “true rulers of the globe” like the "Skulls and Bones" fraternity to which all US presidents belong, secret oligarch groups based in Switzerland, the Deep State in the US, Jews and Masons, the Vatican, the Rothschild and Rockefeller families or billionaire George Soros, who allegedly uses the G7 as a facade and controls the world through mechanisms like manipulation of public opinion, thought control, climate change, immigration, and even the coronavirus outbreak.

Disinfo: Berlin’s allegations of Russia's “hacker attacks” to the Bundestag are nonsense and absurdity

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that German investigators allegedly have “irrefutable evidence” that a Russian citizen was involved in a hacker attack on the Bundestag. It was noted that the suspect allegedly did this for “Russian intelligence.” Berlin’s allegations of “hacker attacks” from Russia on the Bundestag are nonsense and absurd. Moscow strongly rejects the accusations of the German side and is ready to consider “reliable evidence” of involvement in the cyber attack, if Germany has any.

Jun 04, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative denying Russia's responsibility for cyber attacks on the German Parliament in 2015. The Germany's domestic intelligence agency said Russia was behind a series of attacks on German state computer systems, including the German parliament in 2015. German media reported that the federal prosecutor's office had issued an international arrest warrant against Dmitriy Badin, reportedly a 29-year-old Russian hacker working for Moscow's military intelligence service GRU, in relation to the cyberattack. The public attention to the 2015 cyber attack and its attribution to Russia again became prominent in May 2020 as the German Chancellor told the German Parliament she had hard evidence that Russia was behind the attack.“I take it very seriously,” Merkel said. “I may very honestly say it pains me. The chancellor said Russia was pursuing "a strategy of hybrid warfare," including disinformation and the distortion of facts, "which we have to take into account and which we cannot simply ignore." Read similar cases claiming that "Germany accused Russia of hacking the Bundestag either to advance the NordStream 2 or as a pretext not to participate in the Victory Parade", or "Accusations against Russia of hacking the Bundestag follow the same pattern as accusations over the Salisbury poisoning".

Disinfo: Ukraine refuses to adhere to the Minsk agreements

Ukraine refuses to adhere to the internationally recognised way to end the bloodshed and resolve the conflict in the Donbas. Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba declares that Ukraine refuses to fulfil a number of clauses of the Minsk agreements. Consequently, Ukraine refuses to implement the entire package of the Minsk agreements aimed at resolving the conflict in the Donbas.

Jun 04, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the war in Ukraine, claiming that Ukraine refuses to implement the Minsk agreements. Ukraine has never claimed that it does not want to implement the Minsk agreements. The implementation of the agreements remains one of the key priorities of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The disinformation message refers to a social media post from the Ukrainian Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Minister confirmed that Ukraine is ready to seek a compromise, however, Ukraine will not trade its sovereignty and independence:

"Settlement is impossible without compromise. But space for the compromise will open only when the weapons fall silent. The main priority is the implementation of a long and verified ceasefire. At the same time, we have made it clear that Ukraine will not cross the red line of its sovereignty and territorial integrity."

This was the official Ukrainian position for many years, it was discussed on negotiations in Minsk and during the recent Normandy Four meeting. Over the last 12 months, Ukraine has made serious steps to resolve the conflict in Donbas peacefully. Ukraine initiated a Normandy Four meeting that was held on December 9, 2019. Ukraine agreed that a full and comprehensive ceasefire is necessary. The parties of the Normandy Summit also agreed to release captives on the principle "all for all" by December 2019. Three prisoner exchanges have been conducted, with the last one taking place during the COVID-19 lockdown. The law on special order of local self-government in certain areas of Donbas was extended for another year. A disengagement of troops was achieved in Zolote, Petrivske, and Stanytsia Luhanska. Ukraine also rebuilt a bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska that was destroyed by the pro-Russian militants in March 2015. Moreover, the negotiations in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) have not been suspended due to the coronavirus crisis. The meetings were held in a video format. Ukraine also increased the number of its representatives in the TCG in order to intensify the work of the latter. The Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak explained that "with this step, Ukraine once again demonstrates great commitment to implement the Minsk agreements. Second, we demonstrate that we want to move forward and not waste time."