DISINFO: If Ukraine joins NATO, it will be forced to send soldiers to the alliance’s missions abroad
SUMMARY
Ukraine’s eventual entrance in NATO would automatically mean that the country could be forced to send their soldiers to take part in the alliance missions in foreign countries.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about NATO, aiming to create a climate of opinion opposed to Ukraine’s entrance in the Atlantic Alliance. Contrary to the claim, participation in NATO’s international missions is totally voluntary and member countries can freely decide the extent of their contribution.
See other examples of similar disinformation messages, such as claims that by provoking Russia, Ukraine is filling the role assigned by NATO; that more than half of the Ukrainian population don’t want their country to join the Atlantic Alliance; that through “Spring Storm” exercises, NATO is preparing an attack on Russia and Belarus; that NATO is carrying out biological experiments in US-controlled biolabs; or that NATO is pursuing its own bureaucratic survival through nonexistent threats.
This disinformation message appeared in the same article as the claims that “The West needs a war at Russia’s borders and exploits Ukraine’s anti-Russian activities”, that “Russia sent troops to the Ukrainian border because there was danger for the Russian population in Donbas”, and that “Kyiv’s desire to join NATO jeopardises the existence of Ukraine as an independent state”.