Disinfo: The West was trying to crush Russia, forcing it to surrender economically and geopolitically

Summary

The tumultuous events of the middle of the last decade were for the West an attempt to finally crush Russia, forcing it to complete economic and geopolitical surrender. Moreover, the West did not have the slightest doubt about the success of this undertaking. They were convinced that it would be possible to achieve this "with little blood" in the form of measures that were not too painful for themselves, since, for example, disconnecting Moscow from SWIFT would become extremely unpleasant for Western business. Russia, however, once again presented a surprise by resisting collective pressure - and for several years the situation remained in an unstable equilibrium. Nominally, the confrontation persisted, but the sanctions turned into profanation and an empty formality.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation attempting to deflect attention from Russia's violations of international law and promoting a recurrent narrative on the West's/EU's aggressive anti-Russian ambitions.

Тhe article appeared after the announcement of new sanctions by the EU. While speculating on the topic, the article does not in any way touch upon the reasons for the sanctions, considering them an anti-Russian policy to collapse Russia.

The EU sanctions against Russia were adopted as a reaction to the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the deliberate destabilisation of Ukraine.

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.

The EU and Russia have committed to upholding and respecting the fundamental values and principles of democracy, human rights, the rule of law and the market economy. Russia remains a natural partner for the EU and a strategic player combating the regional and global challenges. The EU’s approach to Russia is guided by five principles agreed in 2016 and reaffirmed, most recently, by EU Foreign Ministers in October 2020. Read more about the EU-Russia relations here.

See other case claiming that the West is trying to eliminate Russia as a geopolitical actor under the pretext of "human rights", EU has been deliberately breaking relations with Russia, that the West is trying to make Russia “obedient” and “comfortable” or the EU want to make Russia a semy-colony.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 236
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 04/03/2021
  • Article language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Russia, EU
  • Keywords: Sanctions, West, Anti-Russian, Russophobia
see more

Disinfo: US regards Ukraine as tool of containment against Russia

On the grand chessboard, the United States regards Ukraine as a tool of containment against Russia. This is what US President Joe Biden has virtually said. The Paris-Berlin-Moscow-Beijing axis is being created, and the US position in Europe is questioned. The US will be at least striving to return European countries to the situation before 2014 when there was a consensus about imposing sanctions on Russia.

Disproof

This is a recurrent disinformation narrative by the pro-Kremlin media in Ukraine.

Both the European Union and the United States support Ukraine in its war against pro-Russian separatists in the eastern region of Donbas. The US also provides Ukraine with military equipment. All under transparent schemes.

Disinfo: Moldovan doctors await Sputnik V, refusing to get vaccinated with AstraZeneca

Moldovan doctors are waiting for Sputnik V, refusing the Romanian AstraZeneca. Specialists in the field do not trust the Romanian AstraZeneca and are waiting for the Russian Sputnik V to arrive in the republic.

Disproof

Recurring disinformation narrative about vaccination, presenting the vaccines approved by WHO as not so efficient as Russian Sputnik V. See here a similar case claiming that Moldovan doctors refuse to be vaccinated, in general, against COVID-19.

The claim comes as two groups of doctors from the Gagauz autonomy of the Republic of Moldova asked the Ministry of Health not to send them AstraZeneca vaccines, donated by Romania, as there are no people willing to be vaccinated. The text quotes the head of the hospital in Ceadir-Lunga with the statement: “Our team agrees to be vaccinated. But they want either Pfizer or Sputnik V.”

Disinfo: Russia already destroyed its chemical stockpile, the US didn’t

The United States assumed the role of a warrior to "prohibit the production" of chemical weapons, despite the fact that Russia had fulfilled its obligations several years ago to get rid of chemical weapons, and the United States, which took upon itself obligations, did not fulfil them, and these chemical weapons are still in its possession and have not been destroyed.

Disproof

A recurrent pro-Kremlin narrative that Russia shut down all its chemical weapons programmes while trying to make it seem as if the US is not committed to destroying its own stockpile.

In September 2017, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) did in fact confirm the full destruction of the 39,967 tonnes of chemical weapons possessed by Russia, but Novichoks were never declared to the OPCW and were not included in the Chemical Weapons Convention until 2019. Russia is a member of OPCW.