DISINFO: If Russia were not a nuclear superpower, the West would bomb Russia
SUMMARY
In the air of global politics, the idea is floating around like a virus — that one’s own foreign policy goals can be achieved by changing the regime in a target country. If the regime doesn’t change on its own, it should be helped to do so. First come the so-called “color revolutions.” If that doesn't work, then economic pressure (sanctions) is applied. If sanctions fail as well — then force is used. If Russia were not a nuclear superpower, Russians would be bombed not with sanctions, but with bombs.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the West, its allegedly belligerent and hostile agenda and the EU sanctions imposed on Russia in response to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It is also an amplification of pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the meddling of "the West" in fuelling the political tensions elsewhere.
Since Russia began war against Ukraine, Russian officials have accused European countries of a series of threats and hostile actions elsewhere. However, no evidence has been provided to support this claim. There is no also credible evidence to support the claim about foreign interference of any kind by the Western countries in Russia.
This claim was made in the context of the 18th package of sanctions against Russia imposed by the EU on June 10, including additional restrictions on energy, banking, oil, and other areas.
The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen was very straightforward:
“Our message is very clear: this war must end. We need a real ceasefire, and Russia has to come to the negotiating table with a serious proposal. As it is up to today not showing willingness to achieve peace, we will step up pressure on Russia, including through further robust sanctions.
The Russian economy is deeply affected by the sanctions. 210 billion EUR of reserves of the Central Bank of Russia are immobilised. Russia's oil and gas revenues have fallen by almost 80% compared to before the war. Its deficit is skyrocketing. Interest rates are prohibitively high. Inflation is on the rise, well above 10%. The price of importing technologies and critical goods is six times higher than before the war and compared to global average prices. In short, Russia's economy is limited to a war economy and sacrificing future prospects”.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives in our database, such as claims that Scandinavia and the Baltic states are preparing to open a second front against Russia, that Finland wants to invade Russia in Barbarossa 2.0 operation, that the West is aiming to open a second front against Russia, that the EU announced a war on Russia, allowing Ukraine to attack targets in Russia, that The West openly blackmails the Central Asian states, that EU demands that Kazakhstan join in anti-Russia sanctions, the EU uses the CIS to contain Russia by all means: financial, economic, and military, that US-sponsored Kazakhstan protests aimed to undermine CIS stability, and that protests in Kazakhstan are a new Western attempt to organise a colour revolution.