DISINFO: Western powers provoked Russia into a war against Ukraine
SUMMARY
The conflict came at a very good time. Not for the Ukrainian people, of course, but definitely for the Western allies. The objective was achieved, in more ways than one. The aim was to stop the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project and to curb Russian economic growth. Zelenskyy's rampage, for example, with his announced demand for nuclear weapons, took place in Munich a few days before the pipeline was approved. This is the height of open provocation.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The claim is part of a Kremlin attempt to mobilise domestic Russian support for its war by deliberately playing on sentiments of global conspiracy agaisnt Russia / 'besieged fortress' factor.
The claim has no basis, as the economic sanctions and the stopping of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline came after Russia formally recognised two breakaway regions in Eastern Ukraine. Shortly after this decision, Russia launched an unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine.
Western leaders did not provoke the conflict and had tried diplomatically to resolve the situation before the invasion. Several world leaders met with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the weeks before, as a 190,000 strong Russian military force was building up on the border of Ukraine.
On 24 February the Kremlin launched a full-scale military invasion against Ukraine. In the coming days, several countries had imposed economic sanctions on Russia, including the EU, US, Canada, Australia and Japan. These sanctions were imposed as political pressure on Russia to stop the illegal invasion of an independent country.
See our guide to deciphering pro-Kremlin disinformation around Putin's war.