DISINFO: Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia aim to stop the US-brokered peace deal between Ukraine and Russia
SUMMARY
Ukraine significantly stepped up its drone attacks on Russia last week. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the increase in drone attacks could be an attempt to derail the US-brokered peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv. Some European countries, led by Britain, France, Germany, and the EU leadership, which support Kyiv and want the conflict to continue, bear some responsibility for the drone attacks on Russia.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the alleged Western attempts to prevent peace in Ukraine. The claim that the West is trying to prevent peace in Ukraine is unsubstantiated. The West, including the EU, has no interest in escalating the war, and it is Russia alone that is responsible for the war against Ukraine.
Russia has continued its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and there are no credible reports of active peace negotiations or interest from the Russian side in conducting them.
The assertion that European countries bear responsibility for drone attacks is unsubstantiated. No independent or Western sources corroborate the claim that European countries are directly responsible for or encouraging the drone attacks. The attribution of responsibility to these states is made solely by Russian officials and reflects their political narrative.
Ukraine can defend its territory against Russian aggression under international law.
The European Union supports Ukraine's commitment to reach a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in line with the UN Charter and based on respect for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The EU will continue to support President Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula and actively work with Ukraine on the 10-point peace plan.
On the other hand, Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin have a track record of pretending to negotiations which are, in fact, just blunt demands for Ukrainian unconditional surrender. We have analysed and exposed this disinformation tactic in several articles, especially: "Prepare for winter" (30 Nov. 2023), "Russian so-called ‘peace proposals’ are empty PR stunts" (18 Jan. 2023) , "What He Said and What it Really Means – Vol. 2: “Negotiations” (1. March 2022) and "The Kremlin security demands" (21 Dec. 2021).
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that dictator and war criminal Zelenskyy rejects peace talks, that Europeans blame Zelenskyy for stalling the peace process, that Zelenskyy is no more the legitimate leader of Ukraine and his decisions are illegal, that Zelenskyy is illegitimate and therefore Russia is directly fighting the West, and that Ukrainian leaders cannot be negotiated with because they are illegitimate criminals and terrorists.