DISINFO: NATO plans to deliver weapons to Ukraine under the guise of military exercises
SUMMARY
Ukraine is preparing for the Sea Breeze 2021 joint exercise with NATO, the largest in many years. Moscow is confident that the Pentagon is pursuing other, secret goals in addition to checking the combat readiness of the troops.
Under the guise of military manoeuvres, NATO plans to deliver to Ukraine modern weapons, ammunition and material assets for the Ukrainian troops. Just as in previous years, all this will be directed to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and nationalist formations stationed near the areas not controlled by Kyiv in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about NATO and its military exercises, US presence in Europe, and Ukraine.
There is no evidence that NATO is using the exercises as a cover to secretly supply US armaments to Kyiv. Nor is there a logical reason why Washington's assistance to Ukraine should suddenly become a clandestine matter. In fact, the US Department of Defense is quite open about its military relationship with Ukraine. See, for instance, this 2019 Pentagon press release announcing an additional $250 million in aid to the Ukrainian Army and stating the total volume of US security assistance since the beginning of Russian aggression on Ukraine in 2014.
Moreover, NATO is a defensive alliance, whose purpose is to protect its member states. During the Warsaw summit in July 2016, NATO has made it clear that "The Alliance does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to Russia".
The Alliance announces its military exercises well in advance and they are subject to international observation. NATO strongly supports efforts to build confidence and transparency in military activities and exercises.