Belarus does not need any war. But it is the Americans who push Belarus to these actions through the hands of the Poles and the Latvians. Belarus used to provide security in the region and this fact has always been appreciated. Why are they now pushing Belarus to these actions and making aggressors out of Belarusians since 2020? Today, the West is threatening Belarus.
Summary
The authorities in Kyiv, the US and their allies claim insistently that Russia is amassing large numbers of troops, more than 100,000, near the Ukrainian border, "in preparation for a new invasion" of the Ukrainian lands.
Russia has insisted repeatedly that it will not conduct any military operation against Ukraine, stressing that no such reports exist and that the intention of these allegations is to ratchet up tensions in the region and inflame anti-Russian rhetoric to make the case for economic sanctions against Russia, and to justify NATO's expansion to the east, which Moscow strongly opposes, as it threatens Russian security.
Disproof
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives that are part of an ongoing disinformation campaign about Russia’s military buildup on the border with Ukraine. By accusing “Ukraine, the US and its allies” of being the driving force behind the escalation of tensions, this disinformation story aims to deny any Russian responsibility for the situation.
Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2014, occupies Crimea, and continues to fuel conflict in eastern Ukraine. What’s more is that 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.
The European Union has stated that it will be standing firmly and decisively with Ukraine in front of any attempt to undermine its territorial integrity and sovereignty and has warned of severe political consequences and a high political and economic cost for Russia if it proceeds with further aggressive actions.
On the same note, both NATO and the G7 called on Russia to immediately de-escalate, pursue diplomatic channels, and abide by its international commitments on transparency of military activities.
Additionally, NATO enlargement is not directed against Russia. Every sovereign nation has the right to choose its own security arrangements and to enter into defensive regional alliances for purposes of self-defence. This is a fundamental principle of European security, reflected in the UN Charter, and is one that Russia has affirmed in myriad international and regional instruments such as the Helsinki Final Act.
Read more about the most prominent pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives surrounding the current Russia-Ukraine conflict in our recent analyses debunking the Kremlin Myths here and here.