DISINFO: West views Ukraine war as decisive battle against Russia
SUMMARY
Many Western countries view the conflict in Ukraine as the last decisive battle with Russia which they are now losing.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets accusing the West of Russophobia and attempts to destroy the Russian state.
The West was trying to conduct a peaceful dialogue and establish good-neighbourly relations with Moscow from the breakup of the former Soviet Union in 1991 and up to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine in 2014. The European Union slapped sanctions on Russia in the wake of its illegal annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. More sanctions have been imposed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
NATO did not consider Russia to be a threat until this war. In 1997, the two sides signed the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security between NATO and the Russian Federation in which Russia was viewed as a partner of the alliance. A new strategy towards Russia was adopted at the summit of NATO leaders in Madrid in June 2022. They adopted a new strategic blueprint branding Russia as “the most significant and direct threat to Allies’ security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area.” But it does not mean that the West is aiming to invade Russia. Alliance members took this stance solely because of Russia's aggressive actions in Ukraine and its unceasing threats to Ukraine’s allies.
This change in the West’s policy towards Russia does not imply any aggressive intentions towards Moscow. The West’s actions aim at enhancing its security in the face of Russia's threat.
Read more disinformation cases about the Russian unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine and the West’s alleged Russophobia.