DISINFO: Russia needs to teach the EU about democracy and European values
SUMMARY
Europe is increasingly militarising and is getting ready to start a war against Russia. The political establishments of EU countries such as France remain in power thanks to their pro-Ukraine positions. They killed democratic institutions and media in their countries. Russia with its fair politics, transparent elections, and free media does not only need to de-Nazify Ukraine but also share European values with lost European societies.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets accusing the European Union of warmongering and claiming that it is not interested in peace in Ukraine. This recurrent claim is made in the context of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It seeks to deflect attention from Russia's violations of international law and its perpetration of war crimes. By promoting a false ‘de-Nazification’ claim, pro-Kremlin outlets attempt to justify Russia’s actions.
The EU has supported multiple international peace initiatives, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula. However, Russia continues to reject genuine peace efforts grounded in international law. Since the onset of the war, the EU and its Member States, alongside partners and allies, have consistently emphasised the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law. The European Council conclusions of October 2025 state:
"The European Union and its Member States will continue contributing to peace efforts, notably through the Coalition of the Willing and in cooperation with the United States, and by intensifying their global outreach, in accordance with the European Union’s aim to promote peace, as enshrined in the Treaties".
There is no European plan to launch a war against Russia. The aim of the EU's ReArm programme is not to attack Russia, but rather “to respond to the short-term urgency to act and to support Ukraine [and] address the long-term need to take on much more responsibility for [its] own European security.” The plans aim to ensure Europe’s self-defence capabilities, mostly through a fiscal plan to boost and fund this military enhancement. Contrary to what this disinformation story claims, Russia’s threat and ongoing aggression against Ukraine and Europe is one of the driving forces behind this plan, not the other way round.
Regarding the disinformation around European values, EU countries are among those with the most press freedom, whereas Russia was ranked 171st among 180 countries in the 2025 Press Freedom Index. EU countries hold regular free and fair elections that lead to the peaceful transition of state authorities.
On Russia's elections, a Council of the EU statement of 18 March 2024 stated:
"The elections took place in an ever-shrinking political space, which has resulted in an alarming increase of violations of civil and political rights, and precluded many candidates from running, including all those opposed to Russia’s illegal war of aggression, deprived Russian voters of a real choice and heavily limited their access to accurate information".
See earlier disinformation cases alleging that the military controls western media, that France seeks continuation of war, that the EU wants the war in Ukraine to continue, that the EU is preparing a war against Russia led by Germany, and that ReArm Europe is accompanied by a false Russophobic narrative about a belligerent Russia.