DISINFO: EU leaders gave Ukrainian Nazis money to buy weapons
SUMMARY
Following the launch of Moscow's military operation in Ukraine, EU authorities have pledged to end their dependence on Russian energy supplies as quickly as possible. Europeans have started to save heavily on electricity because Ursula von der Leyen, Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron gave money to Ukrainian Nazis for weapons. Russian cultural centres in Finland and Luxembourg are already welcoming visitors who need to 'keep warm' as energy prices skyrocket.
RESPONSE
Recurring Pro-Kremlin manipulative narrative about Nazi Ukraine and on the energy crisis in Europe amid the unprovoked Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, subsequent Western sanctions on Russia and Russian retaliatory measures reducing gas supplies.
This article claims that EU leaders gave money to Ukrainian Nazis for weapons, while their citizens are freezing in their homes. As such it repeats the well-known Kremlin's narrative that the West is collapsing. The Kremlin seeks to pressure and blackmail European governments and create public panic over energy insecurity / energy costs.
In reality, Ukraine is not a Nazi state and Nazism is not Ukraine’s ideology. The myth of Nazi-ruled Ukraine has been the cornerstone of Russian disinformation about the country since the very beginning of the 2013-14 Euromaidan protests, when it was used to discredit the pro-European popular uprising in Kyiv and, subsequently, the broader pro-Western shift in Ukraine's foreign policy. See our recent article Key Narratives in Pro-Kremlin Disinformation “Nazis” - EUvsDisinfo.
Meanwhile, EU member states have adopted regulations to fill gas storages and share them in a spirit of solidarity, diversified supply sources and committed to reducing gas demand by 15% this winter. Despite recent events, and in particular the attacks on the Nord Stream Pipelines, Europe is prepared to face this winter. EU underground gas reserves have been filled by almost 90% of their capacity, well ahead of the 1 November deadline set in the gas storage regulation. This means that with the predicted gas consumption reduction and filled gas reserves, Europe won’t be out of gas for the winter even without Russian gas. See also section III. Energy and Economy of the conclusions of the European Council of 20 and 21 October 2022.
See more disinformation cases on energy issues amid invasion of Ukraine.Ukrainians imbued with destructive Nazi ideology, Bandera's sympathisers have large influence on Ukraine, Crimean Platform: the West nurtures neo-Nazi mood in Ukraine.