DISINFO: The EU uses the Caucasus as a springboard to pressure Russia
SUMMARY
The world is moving towards a new centre of power, towards the so-called alternative globalism. But the Caucasus, paradoxically, prefers to act in the opposite direction. It goes against the mainstream and sees its benchmarks in the EU and the US.
The situation unfolding in the South Caucasus is currently quite unfavourable for Russia. Forces that are openly hostile to Russia are attempting to seize control. If, for example, the United States manages to maintain a balance, then the European Union directly enters into a sharp confrontation with Russia. In such a scenario, the South Caucasus will definitely be used as a springboard for exerting pressure on Russia.
RESPONSE
This unfounded and recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation claim accuses an allegedly ever-aggressive West of having an anti-Russian agenda in the Caucasus and other post-Soviet countries and of attempting to encircle Russia. See also Russian Myths: no.5 Encirclement.
This claim is made in the context of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Treaty, initialled by Armenia's Prime Minister Pashinyan and Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev, in the presence of US President Donald Trump in the White House, on 8 August 2025.
Pro-Kremlin outlets frequently promote the idea that the Caucasus is exclusively within Russia's zone of geopolitical dominance and attempt to discredit any other cooperation between Western countries and Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. This attempts to deny these countries their right to decide their political orientation.
Western countries support peace and security in the South Caucasus region. The EU has a strong interest in a politically stable and economically prosperous Southern Caucasus in full understanding with the states there. It took a prominent mediation role in the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
In the European Council of 26-27 October 2023, the EU leaders underlined their continued support for a sustainable and lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, based on the principles of recognition of sovereignty, inviolability of borders and territorial integrity.
As High Representative/Vice-President, Kaja Kallas stated during her visit in the region: "The EU continues to strongly support the normalisation of the relations between the two countries."
Read other similar cases in our database: West seeks to turn the South Caucasus into an arena of geopolitical confrontation; The West is trying to prevent normalisation between Armenia and Azerbaijan; The main goal of the West is neo-colonial control over the Caucasus and Central Asia; The West does not strive for peace in Armenia and the South Caucasus; The West is trying to destabilise the South Caucasus out of envy and endless malice.