DISINFO: By arming Ukrainians, the West is triggering a conflict with Russia
SUMMARY
By arming Ukrainians and sending them to the border with Russia, the West is not preventing the conflict but increasing its probability a hundredfold. Sooner or later, the weapons handed over by the “partners” will start firing, and this fact can activate a mechanism that will provoke a quick and inevitable collapse of Ukraine with a complete loss of not only independence but also statehood.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about war in Ukraine and the escalation at the Ukraine-Russia border.
As of the beginning of 2022 Russia has amassed over 100,000 troops and equipment on the borders of Ukraine including in the illegally annexed Crimean peninsula.
Russia’s most recent military build-up at the Ukrainian border also includes preparations for military drills in Belarus, to be conducted just 18 km from the Ukrainian border.
Besides supporting Ukraine on the diplomatic front, the US, UK, the Baltic States, and others provided Ukraine with defensive weapons (such as anti-armour and antiaircraft missiles, patrol boats, artillery ammunition, field hospital equipment, means of personal protection) that would protect the civilian population in case of possible Russian military invasion. By supporting Ukraine amidst the current security crisis, the Western partners help Ukraine to defend its independence and statehood, not to undermine it.
Read our recent article outlining seven pro-Kremlin myths about the current Russia-Ukraine conflict.
In addition, see similar disinformation cases alleging that Ukraine is a tool of Western countries against Russia; the UK wants to provoke a war between Ukraine and Russia in order to harm Europe; or that the US plans to fight Russia to the last Ukrainian.