DISINFO: NATO’s main goal has always been the destruction of Russia
SUMMARY
NATO’s goal has not changed for all these years and decades of its existence: to destroy Greater Russia. Regardless of the words, guarantees, semantics that were included in the NATO doctrines, the Alliance always wanted one thing: for Russians and their country not to exist.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative that vilifies NATO as a supposedly aggressive, anti-Russian and destabilizing organization, encircling Russia, while falsely presenting Russia as a victim.
The statement was made in the context of the NATO summit in Vilnius.
NATO is a defensive alliance with the primary aims of maintaining peace and safeguarding the independence, security and territorial integrity of its members. NATO constitutes a system of collective defence whereby its member states agree to mutual defence in response to an attack by any external party. NATO’s official policy is that “the Alliance does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to Russia.”
Since Russia began its aggressive and unprovoked actions against Ukraine, Russian officials have accused NATO of a series of threats and hostile actions. The pro-Kremlin disinformation myth of NATO “encircling Russia” has even been used as a pretext for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Read here about Russian Myths on NATO.
NATO as an organization is not involved in fighting in Ukraine. In response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, NATO has reinforced its support for capability development and capacity-building in Ukraine. NATO member states provide Ukraine with military assistance to repel the unprovoked Russian aggression and not because of their alleged animosity towards Russia.
Not only Western but also many other nations around the world are helping Ukraine repel Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked aggression and do not aim at eliminating Russia statehood. US President Joe Biden in February 2023 addressed Russian citizens, assuring them that the US does not seek to destroy or control Russia. French president Macron stated in February 2023 as well that "Russia must be defeated but not crushed."
More than 50 states are participating in the Ramstein meetings and are providing military, financial or other assistance to Ukraine to restore its territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. They do this rather than destroy the Russian state.
NATO condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia’s invasion of Ukraine starting in February 2022, which is entirely unjustified and unprovoked.
Read similar disinformation cases about NATO here.