Disinfo: The West declared Russia as its strategic enemy

Summary

The West declared Russia and the Russian leadership as its strategic enemy a long time ago. And in order to defeat this enemy of yours, you need certain tools, including instruments of pressure. They act on the principle of claws, clamping on both sides at the same time: from the inside and from the outside, especially economically.

Internal pressure could have been observed on the example of the events in support of Navalny. And these events will continue until the elections to the State Duma, which are seen as a “window of destabilisation” of the situation in Russia.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about the West waging war on Russia. The article also claims that Navalny is used for the political destabilisation of Russia. Both messages are disinformation.

The EU, its member states and most of the world community demand that Russia fulfils its obligations as a member of the UN, the Council of Europe, the OSCE and other international organisations, as well as Russia's own legislation. These demands cannot be dismissed as 'intentions to destabilise Russia' as it is claimed in the disinformation message.

At the same time, the West is trying to keep channels of communications and cooperation open with Russia. The EU and its member states have maintained a clear policy of reaching out to Russian society and youth, mainly through the Erasmus+ student exchange programme and other people to people contacts. The new US administration under President Biden has signalled a willingness to extend the New START Treaty. NATO's approach to Russia is defence and dialogue.

On behalf of the European Union, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP), Josep Borrell travelled to Moscow in February 2021 with the intention of pursuing a dialogue on core issues in the relations between the European Union and Russia. The Kremlin has answered the European Union’s invitation to dialogue with a shameless attempt to deflect attention from its violations of Russia’s international obligations and own laws. However, the EU will continue to engage with Russia when it is in the interest of the EU.

The attack on opposition leader Alexei Navalny on August 20, 2020, is not an anti-Russian campaign and is explained with a lot of evidence. Alexei Navalny fell ill during a flight and the plane had to make an emergency landing in Omsk, where doctors said he was in a coma and they were fighting to save his life. From Omsk, he was transferred to Berlin, where the German federal government said that toxicological tests provided “unequivocal evidence of a chemical nerve agent of the Novichok group” in the blood samples of Navalny. Read more on how the further investigation evolved here.

Read similar cases claiming that The West is using Navalny to access Russia’s resources, that NATO’s statements about the need to confront Russia are caused by the crisis within the West, that the EU wants to make Russia a semi-colony to dictate its foreign and domestic policy, or that the West is trying to eliminate Russia as a geopolitical actor.

These articles also included claims that Ukraine does not need Donetsk nor Luhansk and that Ukraine sold itself to external control.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 235
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 12/03/2021
  • Article language(s) Russian, Serbian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Russia, EU, US, Europe
  • Keywords: Anti-Russian, Russophobia, Josep Borrell, Alexei Navalny, Destabilising Russia
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Disinfo: Russia is being sanctioned for its sole existence

The West’s maniacal desire to impose sanctions on Russia is explained by the mere fact of Russia’s existence. The reason for these restrictive measures is that Moscow is protecting its national interests.

Disproof

This is a recurring narrative by pro-Kremlin media claiming that the anti-Russian sanctions are groundless and illegal.

In reality, the sanctions were imposed on Russia for its aggressive policy and violation of international law. The first round of restrictive measures was imposed in March 2014 in the wake of Russia’s illegal annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. More action against Moscow was taken in the following months, the reason being its support of the pro-Kremlin separatists in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas. Some sanctions were only political, such as the suspension of Russia’s voting rights in the Council of Europe. However, its voting rights were restored in 2019. In addition, bans were also imposed on transactions with some Russian businessmen and officials.

Disinfo: The UK uses an anti-Russian rhetoric as a cover, it aims at weakening the EU

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab recently visited the Baltic states and expressed his support to them in the face of the Russian threat. In fact, London uses an anti-Russian rhetoric as a cover-up in its foreign policy doctrine known as “Global Britain”. It wants to use the Baltic states and Ukraine as expendables to weaken the EU and, in particular, the German-French alliance.

Disproof

Disinformation aimed to discredit UK foreign policy and portray it as insidious and anti-EU as well as to question solidarity between the UK and EU member states.

Global Britain is a foreign policy concept used by UK officials. The September 2019 article, authored by UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, reads:

Disinfo: Kyiv ready to launch offensive in Donbas with Biden’s approval

Kyiv is ready to launch an offensive in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas with US President Joe Biden’s approval. Sources in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office say that the White House has already approved the military scenario, although it has ordered to wait for a signal.

Disproof

A recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin media outlets aiming at deflecting attention away from Russia's direct engagement in the conflict in Ukraine.

The US provides Ukraine with military equipment and trains its soldiers, but does not issue military orders. Since the outbreak of Moscow’s aggression against Kyiv in 2014, the US has supported Ukraine, but there is no direct military US involvement in the Donbas war. The European Union also supports Ukraine, with no direct military assistance.