DISINFO: NATO aims to turn Ukraine into a powerful anti-Russia springboard
SUMMARY
The goal of the US and NATO is to turn Ukraine into the most powerful, the most dangerous springboard against Russia. If the Russian military operation had not started, Ukraine would be facing the creation of a new huge army armed with contemporary western weapons.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative alleging that Ukraine is a Western "tool" against Russia, and aiming to portray the unjustified full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine as a NATO proxy war against Russia. The claim aims to deflect any Russian responsibility for the full-scale invasion, which began on 24 February 2022. The Russian war against Ukraine began in 2014 with the Russian illegal annexation of Crimea and Russia's military involvement and support of separatists in Donbas.
Russia was not forced to invade Ukraine. It was Putin’s personal decision to invade Ukraine and start the largest military conflict in Europe since WWII. Putin claims several reasons for launching aggression, including the necessity to save territories in Eastern Ukraine from a genocide, Ukraine’s alleged desire to obtain nuclear weapons and Kyiv’s possible membership of NATO, rid Ukraine of its 'Nazi' leadership; the latter a favorite trope.
Neither the US nor European countries have pushed Ukraine to war with Russia or want to escalate the war in Ukraine. The US, the EU and NATO condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which is entirely unjustified and unprovoked.
The West supports Ukraine with military and financial aid for the country’s efficient self-defence, in accordance with the UN Charter Article 51, to stop Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
Moscow’s overall aggressive policy has led to a tougher and better-balanced policy towards it by the West.
NATO member states are not involved in direct fighting. Ukraine receives weapons with the sole aim of restoring its territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. Western instructors are teaching Ukrainian soldiers how to use modern weaponry, but there are no NATO troops fighting on the front.
See the EU's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine here along with EU vs Disinfo's Guide to Deciphering Pro-Kremlin disinformation around Putin's War.