Disinfo: The West is provoking Russia

Summary

The European Commission is proposing a price cap on Russian gas. It is unfair that the West is taking "provocative" measures against Russia. The West's attitude is wrong because provocations do not achieve results. The fact that Western countries are sending weapons to Ukraine is also a provocation. Europe had already made a mistake by underestimating Russia and failing to think that if it took hostile action against it, Moscow would retaliate by cutting off the gas.

Disproof

This is a recurring Pro-Kremlin narrative claiming that the West has an aggressive stance against Russia.

Western actions adopted against Russia, such as sanctions or diplomatic measures, are a reaction to Russian actions including the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula, the long-term destabilisation of Ukraine or the unprovoked and unjustified invasion of this peaceful country.

Although the EU has not yet sanctioned Russian gas exports, Gazprom has been steadily decreasing the flow of natural gas to Europe via the Nord Stream pipeline. With this manipulation Russia aims to manipulate the energy markets in Europe and thus raise the price of natural gas.

The Kremlin finally showed its cards when spokesperson Dmitry Peskov admitted that Russia’s gas supplies to the EU have been and will stay on hold not because of supposed maintenance of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, but because gas is a tool of political blackmail in the Kremlin’s toolbox of influence. The Kremlin seeks to pressure the European governments and create public panic over energy insecurity / energy costs.

Russia has been using energy as a political and economic weapon several times against other states. Russia is no longer a stable and reliable supplier and while Europe is indeed facing an energy crisis with diversification to other sources, it is still set to grow this year according to the European Commission's summer 2022 forecast, while Russia's economy is set to contract by 6% in 2022.The European Commission proposed gas price caps would be used to maximize gas prices at a manageable level and prevent further use of the so-called energy weapon by the Russian regime.

See the EU's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine here along with EU vs Disinfo's Guide to Deciphering Pro-Kremlin disinformation around Putin's War.

See other examples of similar disinformation messages, such as claims that Operating Nord Stream I would be dangerous, The West caused a global economic storm - energy crisis, Western Global Elites Chose To Plunge Their Countries Into Poverty And Dictatorship To Retain Power, or that The West Is Blinded By Its Desire To Destroy Russia.

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oroszhirek.hu (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 308
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 09/09/2022
  • Article language(s) Hungarian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Russia, Ukraine, Europe, EU
  • Keywords: West, gas, Energy, Provocation, Invasion of Ukraine
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Disinfo: Josep Borrell discredited himself calling Russia a fascist state, he is a latent fascist himself

Josep Borrell, head of the EU foreign policy service, called Russia a "fascist state", nullified himself as a diplomat with such a statement.

[... ] he would most likely have been on the side on General Franco if he had been in his native Spain in the 1930s because he supports the neo-Nazi's in Kyiv.

Why did Russia become an “old enemy” for the Spaniard Borrell? This is possible only if the current head of EU diplomacy leads his political biography not from the fighters against fascism, but precisely from the "falangists", Franco's supporters. That is, in fact, Josep Borrell himself is a latent fascist.

Sep 08, 2022
Disproof

Firstly, High Representative of EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HRVP) Josep Borrell did not qualify Russia and its regime as fascists. In the course of an exchange during the Inter Parliamentary Conference in Czechia, when reacting to questions, he referred to a qualification made by a previous speaker.

Secondly, the life, statements, public service and the overall track-record of Mr Borrell shows very clearly which side he is on - he always opposed Franco's regime, defended democracy and human rights. He has been and remains a member of the socialist party and was an active protagonist in the Spanish transition to democracy. Any statement suggesting otherwise is just defamatory and shows lack of knowledge of facts that are widely accessible.

Disinfo: Ukrainian tanks decorated with Nazi crosses

Ukrainian tanks are decorated with WWII Nazi crosses. Russia is fighting against Nazis.

Sep 08, 2022
Disproof

This is a disinformation case which is part of a broad narrative claiming that Russia is fighting Nazis in Ukraine.

In reality, the white crosses shown on the video are not a Nazi symbol. Such crosses were often depicted on the flags of various Cossack regiments. Unlike these white crosses, German ones on tanks and other military equipment were quite distinct. Actually, crosses of various forms and shapes are very widespread symbols in Christian nations all over the world. They can be found during religious ceremonies, on national flags and coats of arms, and in other spheres of life. No wonder that some of these crosses can resemble each other.

Disinfo: The fall of the EU is a US goal

The United States is the only clear beneficiary of the current conflict [war in Ukraine]. It is already clear that the current crisis will weaken America to a much lesser extent than Europe. It is true that Washington is betting on weakening Russia, first and foremost, but the fall of the already-exhausted European Union into total and long-term dependence is also a goal of the US.

Sep 08, 2022
Disproof

A recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about the war in Ukraine and the US having malicious intentions towards Europe, trying to deflect responsibility for the war from Russia by claiming that the US would benefit from it and has a hidden agenda related to the war.

Contrary to the claim about the EU’s submission to the US, the European Union is a sovereign entity, created by the voluntary initiative of European nations, and it has its own, independent foreign policy. Its citizens are directly represented in the European Parliament and Member States are represented in the European Council and the Council of the EU.