DISINFO: NATO was the cause of the war in Ukraine
SUMMARY
NATO was the trigger for the war in Ukraine. The war in Ukraine was primarily triggered by the fact that Ukraine enshrined NATO accession in its constitution. This prompted Russia to invoke the right to self-defence enshrined in the UN Charter. Those who are familiar with NATO and its wars can only have sympathy for the Russians' self-defence.
RESPONSE
This claim is false and part of a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and NATO. The article falsely claims that NATO is responsible for Russia initiating its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine's desire to join NATO does not justify military aggression. NATO is a defensive alliance, not a threat to Russia.
Russia is the only country responsible for the invasion of Ukraine. It has been coming up with different manipulative explanations and false pretexts for its aggression since the beginning of its hostilities. It cited denazifying and demilitarising Ukraine as well as ensuring its neutral status as among the main reasons for the full-scale invasion at the beginning. Protecting the residents of the self-proclaimed separatist entities in Eastern Ukraine from alleged genocide and imposing the use of the Russian language in Ukraine were also cited.
This disinformation attempts to shift blame for the war onto NATO and Ukraine, while misrepresenting international law to justify Russia's aggression.
Western nations have called to solve problems with Russia in a peaceful and diplomatic manner while upholding the rules-based international order. Moscow’s overall aggressive policy has led to a tougher and better-balanced policy towards it by the West.
See also the Guide to Deciphering Pro-Kremlin disinformation around Putin's War and The Chilling Background to the Kremlin's "No War" trope.