Disinfo: US wants to turn Ukraine into ‘anti-Russia’

Summary

The US does not need anything from Ukraine but one thing – opposing and restraining Russia and creating an anti-Russia country.

Disproof

This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets, claiming that the West is using Ukraine as a springboard for aggression against Russia.

Ukraine, as a sovereign state, determines her foreign policy orientation. Kyiv’s cooperation with NATO has intensified since the illegal annexation of Crimea and outbreak of Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2014. The United States and Turkey supply it with weapons and military equipment (read here and here). Ukraine takes part in joint military exercises with NATO troops such as Sea Breeze, Rapid Trident and other war games. However, all these activities are not Russophobic. They are only defensive and aim at repelling a possible Russian attack.

Russia had amassed tens of thousands of its troops on the border with Ukraine several months before. These developments caused serious concern both in Ukraine and the West. Russia later had to return part of its troops to base, but a large part of military equipment is still located near the Ukrainian border.

The West does not strive to oppose or restrain Russia. The European Union's new strategy for its relationship with Moscow is based on pushing back, constraining and engaging with Moscow at the same time. The extent of engagement depends on Russia's acceptance of internationally recognised rules.

Read more disinformation narratives about the West’s alleged attempts to turn Ukraine into a Russophobic state.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 263
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 11/10/2021
  • Article language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, Russia, US, EU
  • Keywords: Anti-Russian, Russophobia, Military
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Disinfo: Green energy is a scam, Gazprom is safer

Alternative energy is a scam. For example, you can see in Germany many solar panels, which are covering fertile fields. And to compensate for the land, Germany had to go to Ukraine. Or, another example is wind power. It generates infrasound which is also damaging for ecology.

The gas crisis was allegedly provoked by its small reserves. Therefore, no more gas is needed - it must be abandoned altogether... Von der Leyen did not mention that the price of green generation, although stable, is still steadily high in comparison to what Gazprom could offer on the basis of long-term contracts.

Disproof

A series of pro-Kremlin media reports on how harmful green energy is followed after the EU's criticism of the Russian 2021 Duma elections. The same pro-Kremlin outlets clearly articulated threats of increasing natural gas prices for the EU, what indeed happened.

In 2019, renewable energy represented 19.7% of the energy consumed in the EU-27, only 0.3% short of the 2020 target of 20%. The Renewable Energy Directive sets rules for the EU to achieve its 32% renewables target by 2030.

Disinfo: Election interference has become a typical thing in the West in relation to small countries

The recent publication of the Pandora papers could have influenced the result of the [parliamentary] election [in the Czech Republic] and Mr Babiš’s party. Essentially, we have witnessed yet another classic example of external election interference, which has become a normal thing in the West in relation to small countries.

Disproof

There is no evidence to support the claim that Western countries interfered in the Czech parliamentary elections.

An Election Expert Team from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) was invited to observe the 2021 Parliamentary Elections. The final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) stated that the "elections took place against the backdrop of a polarized political context" with the campaign overall being competitive. It doesn't mention anything about election interference.

Disinfo: The 2014 events in Ukraine were a coup d'état

The relationship between the Russian Federation and Ukraine deteriorated in 2014 after a coup d'état in Ukraine. Kyiv also launched a military operation against Donbas, whose citizens did not agree with the changes in power. Crimean authorities held a referendum about the reunification with Russia. Nearly 97% of Crimean voters and 96% of the citizens of Sevastopol have articulated their wish to reunite the peninsula with Russia.

Disproof

The events in Ukraine in 2014 were not a coup d'état but rather a series of demonstrations which began in November 2013 on Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti) in Kyiv. The protests, also known as Maidan or Euromaidan, first began as a reaction to President Yanukovych’s refusal to continue with Ukraine-EU talks on the signing of the Association Agreement with the EU. The demonstrations later turned violent with many injured and even dead. Although pro-Kremlin media have been persistent in calling these events a coup, it cannot be labelled as one.

In Eastern Ukraine, Russia fuelled the separatist conflict with financial and military support, making Russia internationally recognised as a party to the conflict, not a mediator.