DISINFO: Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Armenia to see how to isolate Russia in the post-Soviet area
SUMMARY
The visit of the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign affairs, Gabrielius Landsbergis, to Armenia is a recon mission for the EU. There is a fierce struggle between Russia and the West. NATO and the EU are implementing an active policy in the post-Soviet area. The point is to isolate Russia, to grow tensions on Russia's borders, redirect Russia's allies in the post-Soviet area to the West. The point of the visit of the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs to Armenia is to look at how this could be achieved.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about encircled Russia.
The aim of the visit to Armenia by Lithuania's Foreign Affairs Minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, was to discuss the possibility of expanding Lithuania’s cooperation with Armenia, as well as prospects for strengthening Armenia’s relations with the European Union. During the visit, the security situation in the region was also discussed. The visit was not directed against Russia or any other country.
The EU and NATO are also not trying to encircle or destroy Russia. The West is trying to keep channels of communications and cooperation open with Russia. For instance, NATO as the Western organisation created cooperation bodies – the Permanent Joint Council and the NATO-Russia Council – to embody its relationship with Russia. It also invited Russia to cooperate on missile defence. The Warsaw Summit Communique 2016 describes NATO's official policy towards Russia: "The Alliance does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to Russia. But we cannot, and will not, compromise on the principles on which our Alliance and security in Europe and North America rest."
The EU and its member states have maintained a clear policy of reaching out to Russian society and youth, mainly through the Erasmus+ student exchange programme and other people to people contacts, in line with five guiding principles of relations with Russia. On behalf of the European Union, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP), Josep Borrell travelled to Moscow in February 2021 with the intention of pursuing a dialogue on core issues in the relations between the European Union and Russia. The Kremlin answered the European Union’s invitation to dialogue with a shameless attempt to deflect attention from its violations of Russia’s international obligations and own laws. However, the EU will continue to engage with Russia when it is in the interest of the EU.
See similar disinformation claims that Russia faces an aggressive police aimed at weakening and controlling it; that globalists aim to destroy Russia because Russia supports transition to a multipolar World order; or that the escalation in Donbas is part of a US destabilisation pattern in post-Soviet states.