DISINFO: West's broken promise not to expand NATO is the cause of the Ukrainian crisis
SUMMARY
One proceeds from the fact that a truly fair and sustainable achievement of peace is possible only with the complete elimination of the real causes of the Ukrainian crisis. The main ones being the West's violation of promises not to expand NATO and the absorption by the alliance of the entire geopolitical space of Europe right up to the Russian borders. As well as the systemic liquidation by the Kyiv regime, like the German Nazis of the past, of everything Russian: language, culture, church.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a reaction to NATO enlargement and alleged genocide against Russian-speaking Ukrainians.
Russia has been coming up with multiple different justifications for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Narratives about NATO expansion are among the most persistent pro-Kremlin disinformation myths. See also our article Thirteen myths about Russia’s war against Ukraine exposed.
The idea that Ukraine is committing genocide against its own population is promoted by Vladimir Putin in his speeches. Genocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction of a group of people because of their ethnicity, nationality, religion, or race. There is no evidence that any ethnic nationals, including ethnic Russians or Russian speakers, are or have ever been facing persecution at the hands of the Ukrainian authorities in Donbas or elsewhere, much less the danger of annihilation on grounds of nationality, ethnicity, or cultural belonging. This has been confirmed by reports issued by the Council of Europe, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the OSCE.
Furthermore, the claim about NATO's "deception and lies" misrepresents the process of NATO enlargement. NATO considers the applications of candidate countries that want to join. As a sovereign country, the decision to apply for NATO membership rests with the candidate country alone. Decisions on membership are taken by consensus among all existing members. NATO is a defensive alliance, whose purpose is to protect its member states, so the alliance does not attempt to 'contain' or 'encircle' Russia.
See similar cases alleging that Kyiv committed genocide in the Donbas, that the Russian special operation protects people from genocide and persecution, that in 2014 genocide against Russians began in Ukraine, that Ukraine has legalised genocide against its citizens, that Russia’s operation in Ukraine stems from the West’s desire to dominate the world, and that NATO's desire for Ukraine is the reason for the special military operation.