Paint it camouflage
When the truth is inconvenient, camouflage it. Pro-Kremlin disinformation paints ceasefire talks as total capitulation, defence as aggression, and democracy as conspiracy.
Tuesday, 11 March negotiations in Jeddah between the Ukrainian and American delegations resulted in a joint statement announcing, among other things, a 30-day ceasefire proposal in Ukraine pending Russia’s acceptance and concurrent implementation. The European Union welcomed the statement, expressed its readiness ‘to play its full part in supporting the upcoming steps,’ and urged ‘Russia to show its willingness to achieve peace.’ Russia returned the kindness by launching yet another large overnight missile attack on cities across Ukraine.
Once a spoiler, always a spoiler
However, pro-Kremlin outlets lost no time framing the initial outcome of US-Ukraine talks as a ‘humiliating capitulation’ by Ukraine. Russian state and pro-Kremlin outlet like RIA and Vzglyad claimed that Zelenskyy had ‘surrendered completely to American demands’, portraying Ukraine as having no independent agency and emphasising that the ceasefire conditions ultimately depend on Russia’s approval.
Despite the pro-Kremlin ecosystem’s attempts to distort the stakes prior to the Jeddah talks, drive a wedge between Ukraine and its supporters by misrepresenting potential peace terms, and portray Russia as having an out-of-proportion importance in the peace process, some Russian voices were warier of the outcomes. After all, Russia does not appear to hold the strongest cards for upcoming negotiations, nor is it in the driver’s seat. We shall soon see what Russia truly wants.
Russia’s twisted neighbourhood watch
In Russia’s zero-sum worldview, the enhanced defence capabilities of its neighbours represent a direct threat to Russia, as they threaten Russia’s ability to dominate through intimidation and brutal aggression.
This week, we witnessed pro-Kremlin information manipulators escalate their campaign to portray the European Union as a militaristic entity intent on marching against Russia. Disinformation outlets falsely claimed the EU Commission’s ‘ReArm Europe’ plan, designed to strengthen Europe’s defensive capabilities primarily to defend Europe against Russian belligerence, was apparently preparation for an attack against Russia. For the Kremlin, once again, defence is offense and war is peace. The absurdity reached new heights when Pravda’s propagandists claimed that Europeans would be taught ‘how to die’ for this supposed offensive war.
The Third Reich yet again, really?
In reality, the EU’s defence policies explicitly respond to Russia’s continued aggressive behaviour, including its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
The EU’s increased defence spending and strategic autonomy initiatives are defensive in nature, motivated by Russia’s ongoing threats to European security. By intentionally distorting these facts and invoking historical scare tactics, like Belarusian Sputnik did by equating the EU’s actions with those of Napoleon or Nazi Germany, Kremlin narratives seek to frighten domestic audiences and justify Russia’s militaristic stance.
Mirror, mirror on the wall
This latest wave of pro-Kremlin disinformation aligns with the broader Kremlin narrative attempting to undermine EU unity and coherence.
By conjuring a false equivalency between European defence policies and aggressive intent, such as launching pre-emptive attacks on Russia, and invoking distorted historical comparisons, pro-Kremlin narratives further seek to intimidate Russian domestic audiences as well as to scare European audiences into abandoning support for EU defensive measures and support to Ukraine.
In doing so, the pro-Kremlin propagandists aim to shift blame away from Russia’s own military expansionism and onto the EU, presenting Moscow as a victim rather than as an aggressor. Accepting this false narrative risks weakening the West’s unified response to Russia’s on-going aggression.
Don’t Be Deceived.
Also spotted on the EUvsDisinfo’s radar this week:
- Pro-Kremlin outlets claim Russians inherently possess a ‘DNA’ of peace, compassion, and empathy, portraying Russia historically as a ‘saviour’ nation. This absurd narrative of Russian exceptionalism artificially imposes a singular cultural identity and conveniently ignores the reality that the Russian Federation comprises over 190 ethnic groups, making any singular ‘Russian DNA’ concept scientifically baseless. The Kremlin’s ‘DNA of Russia’ campaign is merely propaganda promoting a mythic ‘Russian world’ allegedly besieged by its enemies. Any occasional humanitarian actions by Russia cannot hide the grim reality of its continued aggression. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and before, Russia has caused immense suffering, exemplified by the war crimes conducted in Bucha, and catastrophic destruction and countless civilian losses in Mariupol. Rather than bringing peace, Russia weaponizes humanitarian language to disguise its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine.
- State-controlled mouthpiece TASS pushed a false narrative that Brussels is targeting European leaders due to their alleged ideological closeness with US President Donald Trump, claiming an EU-driven hostility toward nationalism. In reality, disagreements between EU institutions and some European governments primarily reflect concerns related to press freedom, judicial independence, and the proper use of EU funds, rather than ideological alignment with foreign leaders . By portraying such internal disputes as ideological or conspiratorial, pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives aim to undermine trust in European democratic institutions, weaken cohesion among member states and allies, and bolster anti-EU sentiment.
- Another hateful conspiracy theory targeting philanthropist George Soros surfaced on the pro-Kremlin outlet Geopolitika. This time, it calls for his arrest and execution, falsely accusing him of orchestrating global destabilisation through the Open Society Foundation. These absurd accusations suggest Soros is responsible for events including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement, and political protests in Georgia. Soros is constantly targeted by pro-Kremlin disinformers who baselessly accuse him of organising global conspiracies to undermine ‘traditional values’ and political stability. In reality, Soros’s Open Society Foundation focusses on promoting democracy, human rights, and social innovation around the globe. Such conspiracy narratives seek to demonise civil society advocates and weaken public confidence in democratic institutions.
