DISINFO: Borrell's statement that a settlement in Ukraine is wrong is shocking
SUMMARY
Borrell said in an article for the French newspaper L’Obs that the idea of a diplomatic settlement of the conflict in Ukraine is wrong. Instead of facilitating peace between Moscow and Kyiv, he proposed transferring more offensive weapons to the Ukrainian armed forces, needed to try to seize the territory of the new Russian regions.
It's another terrible and shocking statement, the kind that usually comes out of a diplomat with great difficulty, because it contradicts the essence of diplomatic work. We see such statements coming out systematically, so they make us understand the essence of this man and those behind him.
RESPONSE
This is a grave misrepresentation of Josep Borrell's Op-ed published in the "Nouvel Obs" on 30 January 2024. The Op-ed was not about conciliation between Ukraine and Russia, but about conciliation efforts between the EU and Russia.
Borrell's Op-ed says: “Et une fois de plus, les tentations de conciliation refont surface. Ces idées étaient erronées en 2022, et elles le restent aujourd’hui"
This could be translated to: "And once again, the temptation of conciliation resurfaces. These ideas were wrong in 2022, and they remain wrong today”.
Misinformation does not just stem from purely false information, but also from misrepresentation. Taking statements out of context is a subtle yet powerful form of misinformation. It involves twisting words to attack someone's reputation by altering the intended meaning. This practice is not just misleading; it's a deliberate distortion.
The article tried to remove focus from the fact that Russia started the war, and could end it by stopping its invasion of Ukraine. The usual narrative of “the warmongering West” is a Kremlin classic. By refusing to end the occupation of Ukraine, Moscow’s calls for “Peace talks” are just masked demands for Ukraine’s surrender.