Disinfo: Transit ban on Belarusian fertilisers is a Lithuanian act of hybrid aggression against Minsk

Summary

The decision of the Lithuanian authorities to ban the transit of Belarusian fertilisers is illegal. It is an act of hybrid aggression against Minsk.

Disproof

Disinformation around sanctions and the West waging a so-called hybrid war.

Lithuania began the process of banning the transit of Belarusian fertilisers at the end of 2021. It was made in support of US sanctions against Belarus and was a legal decision of the Lithuanian Government. Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė explained the purpose of the ban. “The decisions, which are being now implemented and, first of all, of course, apply to business entities, have the same goal Lithuania, as a state, has always agreed to, which is to ensure that authoritarian regimes have as little financial comfort as possible than they sometimes manage to achieve”, she said.

This decision is not an act of hybrid aggression but Lithuania's policy on the regime in Minsk. After the 2020 presidential elections in Belarus, Vilnius does not recognise Alexander Lukashenko as president. The European Union has also stated that the elections were neither free nor fair.

The EU, the US and some other countries are imposing sanctions on the Belarus regime due to oppression against civil society in Belarus, the Ryanair Flight 4978 incident, escalation of the migration crisis on the EU border with Belarus, etc (see more about the EU sanctions on Belarus here and about the US sanctions on the Belarus regime here).

See similar examples of disinformation about Lithuania's so-called aggressive behaviour toward Belarus: Lithuania constantly interferes in the affairs of Belarus; Lithuania hopes to transform the Belarusian opposition into Russophobes and Sinophobes; Lithuania pays Tsikhanouskaya salary to destabilise the situation in Belarus.

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sputniknews.lt (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 272
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 03/02/2022
  • Article language(s) Lithuanian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Belarus, Lithuania
  • Keywords: Sanctions, Hybrid war, economy
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Disinfo: The US will start a war in Ukraine when NATO coalition against Russia is ready

The US could begin a big conflict in Ukraine when Washington creates a wide NATO coalition prepared for a war against Russia. Currently, the US supports slow conflict in Donbas and is strengthening its own positions near the Russian border.

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Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about a war in Ukraine and the US presence in Europe.

The US is not interested in a war with Russia. As it is explained on the website of the Department of State, the US “supported Russia’s integration into European and global institutions and a deepened bilateral partnership in security cooperation to reinforce the foundations of stability and predictability” but could not continue this kind of policy because “Russia ultimately rejected this approach”. Washington also reacted to the aggressive behaviour of Moscow aiming to undermine core institutions of the West, "such as NATO and the EU, and to weaken faith in the democratic and free-market system."

Disinfo: Ukraine will become a springboard for possible military operations against Russia

Sooner or later Ukraine will become a springboard for possible military operations against Russia. Given the length of the border, this situation is a disadvantage for Russia, which cannot be compared with the NATO membership of the Baltic countries. The military build-up in Ukraine by the United States and the West poses a fundamental threat to Russia.

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Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative alleging that Ukraine is a "springboard of aggression" against Russia and that the United States and the West are pushing Ukraine towards a war with Russia. By accusing the West and Ukraine, these narratives aim to deflect any Russian blame for this situation and the events that led to it.

Neither the US nor the West, are pushing Ukraine to an escalation in Donbas. This disinformation is used to distract attention from a renewed build-up of Russian armed forces along the Ukrainian borders since October 2021 which has resulted in additional significant Russian heavy armament and equipment near the Ukrainian-Russian and, since recently, also near the Belarusian-Ukrainian borders. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasised many times that Ukraine is not interested in resuming the conflict in Donbas. Ukraine, according to Zelenskyy, is committed to the implementation of the Minsk agreements.

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On the other hand, the Anglo-Saxon bloc (UK, US to some extent) and its Central European satellites (Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia) are blowing the trumpets of war, seeking the conflict with Russia at all costs. The leaders of other countries (Hungary, Croatia) openly declare that they will not be involved in any quarrels related to Ukraine.

Feb 02, 2022
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about Ukrainian statehood and war in Ukraine. These claims are part of an ongoing disinformation campaign about Russia’s military buildup on the border with Ukraine. By accusing the US, UK and Central European countries of being the driving force behind the escalation of tensions, this disinformation story aims to deny any Russian responsibility for the situation.

The claim that Poland, the Baltic states, the UK and the USA want to provoke a conflict with Russia is ungrounded. Since late October 2021, Russia has deployed more than 100,000 troops, as well as certain specialised military units, electronic warfare systems and heavy-armoured vehicles along the borders of Ukraine.