DISINFO: Kyiv, the US and Europe prepare a media provocation to turn the world against Russia
SUMMARY
Representatives of Kyiv, with the support of the EU and others, plan to present ''strong evidence” to the international community that between February and April 2022 Russian military operations caused “radioactive contamination of important lands in Ukraine” at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and others.
The main goal is to exert political pressure on countries that do not support Western sanctions against Russia to ensure their "correct" vote in the United Nations to support the "Kyiv peace plan", [...] to carry out the illegal seizure of Russian assets abroad to "support Ukraine" and create an "international court".
RESPONSE
This is an unsubstantiated claim by pro-Kremlin outlets made in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, accusing the collective West of manipulating the facts of the full-scale invasion to undermine support for the Ukrainian peace plan, to destroy backing of sanctions on Russia and prevent the setting up an of international court for war crimes.
No such revelations took place before the emergency session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) which took place on 22 February 2023.
The claim is made against the background of the UNGA vote on Resolution A/ES-aa/L.7 which demands that ‘the Russian Federation immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.’ The Resolution was voted on 23 February 2023 and adopted by the UNGA with 141 votes in favour, 7 votes against and 32 abstentions.
Russia was only supported by Belarus, DPRK, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua and Syria.
As far as peace negotiations are concerned, the EU Council Conclusions of 09 February 2023 state unequivocally:
"Russia must stop this atrocious war immediately. The European Union will stand by Ukraine with its steadfast support for as long as it takes."
The EU supports Ukraine’s initiative for a just peace, including:
- Ukraine’s 10-point peace plan
- a peace formula summit.
See HRVP Josep Borrell's remarks on the UNGA vote.
Read more disinformation cases about Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.