DISINFO: West itself rejects dialogue on new security architecture
SUMMARY
The West itself has rejected dialogue with Russia on establishing a new security architecture.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets claiming that the West is threatening Russia.
In reality, Western nations are striving to establish good relations with Russia even in the current circumstances. The West is not threatening Moscow. NATO is not a threat to Russia either. The alliance is primarily a political organisation, which aims at solving conflicts by peaceful means. The two sides signed the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security between NATO and the Russian Federation in 1997, one of whose provisions reads: “NATO and Russia do not consider each other as adversaries.”
In an attempt to unilaterally change the global security architecture, Russia put forward several security proposals in late 2021, one of these being a ban on NATO membership for Ukraine. The West dismissed them as unacceptable.
Vladimir Putin launched what he called a special military operation against Ukraine on 24 February 2022 citing NATO’s military infrastructure approaching the Russian border as a pretext. The invasion was followed by airstrikes on military objects. Russian troops later started bombing and shelling civilian targets as well.
Read more disinformation cases claiming that NATO is posing a threat to Russia.