DISINFO: NATO's desire for Ukraine is the reason for the special military operation
SUMMARY
The main reason for everything that has happened to Ukraine over the past three years is the attempt to drag it into NATO. Without this, the special military operation would not be necessary.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and NATO. The article claims that NATO is responsible for Russia initiating its 'special military operation' against Ukraine, and that Russia's operation is intended to stop NATO's actions.
It is not a special operation but an all-out war against a sovereign state. Russia has been coming up with different explanations and pretexts for it as the situation has been changing. Denazifying and demilitarising Ukraine as well as ensuring its neutral status were among the main reasons for the assault at the beginning. Protecting the residents of the self-proclaimed separatist entities in Eastern Ukraine from alleged genocide and imposing the use of the Russian language in Ukraine were also cited. Ukraine was also accused of failing to implement the Minsk accords, although it was Russia and its proxies in the region who were blocking the process of normalisation.
Western nations have always called to solve problems with Russia in a peaceful and diplomatic manner while upholding the rules-based international order. Moscow’s overall aggressive policy has led to a tougher and better-balanced policy towards it by the West.
Furthermore, the claim about NATO dragging Ukraine into its folds misrepresents the process of NATO enlargement. NATO considers the applications of candidate countries that want to join. As a sovereign country, the decision to apply for NATO membership rests with Ukraine alone. Decisions on membership are taken by consensus among all Allies. NATO is a defensive alliance, whose purpose is to protect its member states, so the alliance does not attempt to 'contain' Russia.
See similar disinformation narratives alleging that Europe is occupied by the US and has limited sovereignty, NATO is serving one master - the US, Russia’s operation in Ukraine stems from the West’s desire to dominate the world and the EU is directed by Washington.
See also the Guide to Deciphering Pro-Kremlin disinformation around Putin's War and The Chilling Background to the Kremlin's "No War" trope.