DISINFO: Military absorption of Ukraine by the West threatens Russia
SUMMARY
The beginning of the military absorption of Ukraine by foreign countries is a serious threat to Russia’s territorial integrity.
RESPONSE
A recurring disinformation narrative that claims the West is using Ukraine as a military staging ground for an attack on Russia. This narrative serves to divert attention away from and justify Russia’s unlawful actions, including its ongoing involvement in the war in Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
There is no tangible evidence for any sort of “military absorption” of Ukraine by the West. Western states and organisations are fully transparent about the aid they provide to Ukraine in support of its self-defence. This is in contrast to Russia, which continues to deny that it supports the separatist forces in Eastern Ukraine directly and indirectly in breach of international law. Since the start of hostilities in 2014, the US has supported Ukraine indirectly by providing Ukraine with military equipment and by training its soldiers. NATO officers stationed in Ukraine help in the reformation of the Ukrainian armed forces, which sometimes participate in joint exercises with NATO. The EU also supports Ukraine without direct military involvement by providing humanitarian and financial aid and by supporting Ukraine’s reform programme.
Moreover, Ukraine is an independent country and is free to engage in bilateral or multilateral relations under international law with any country or organisation it wishes.
The West’s actions are a reaction to Russia’s increasingly hostile foreign policy and have an entirely defensive nature, seeking to contain any further breaches of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. During the last meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission in April 2021, both Ukraine and NATO underlined the importance of the Minsk Agreements and urged Russia to withdraw its forces from Eastern Ukraine. Both the EU and the US have repeatedly stated that their sanctions against Russia are aimed at encouraging Russia to take a diplomatic approach and implement the Minsk Agreements. In other words, neither the West nor Ukraine pose a threat to Russia’s territorial integrity.
Detailed and accurate overviews of cooperation between Ukraine and NATO, the EU and the US are available online.
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