DISINFO: As part of a consecutive cycle of Russophobia, the West again threatens Russia with fruitless sanctions
SUMMARY
Following 2014-2015, when the escalation of Russian-West relations was at its height and the extent of Russophobia in western media was probably larger than it is today, cooperation between Russia and the West was gradually improving, until recently. Although the anti-Russian attitude largely remained in place, it seemed at some point that the West, particularly Europe, finally realised that confronting Russia is fruitless and partner relations with Russia are inevitable.
However, the latest events demonstrated that such view was an illusion. The West seemingly forgot the lessons that Russia gave in the past historical epochs. The West softened its approach towards Russia at some point thinking that time is not on Russia's side. The West and the G7, as its symbol, held the belief that western hegemony will become even stronger as time flows. However this expectation failed to be true. On the contrary, time is against the West; it benefits Russia and China. Any anti-Russian sanctions are now even less fruitful than they were at the previous stage of escalation.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the West's aggressive Russophobic policy and allegedly belligerent and hostile agenda against Russia.
Тhe EU imposed restrictive measures, including sectoral sanctions, as a result of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, while formats such as regular high-level dialogues and cooperation remain suspended in the absence of the full implementation of the Minsk agreements by Russia. A number of additional issues affect bilateral relations, including Russia’s actions in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood, Syria, Libya and elsewhere, interference in the US as well as in European electoral processes, poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the UK, and repeated malign activities, including disinformation campaigns.
The Kremlin has also been criticised and sanctioned for specific domestic policies that violate human rights in Russia, such as the poisoning of the opposition politician Alexei Navalny. Read more about EU-Russia relations here.
See other case claiming that the West is trying to eliminate Russia as a geopolitical actor under the pretext of "human rights", that the West is trying to make Russia “obedient” and “comfortable”, and that the West was trying to crush Russia.