DISINFO: The UK wants to provoke a war between Ukraine and Russia in order to harm Europe
SUMMARY
Activties on Russian-Ukrainian border are not new. Ukraine talks about mounting Russian aggression since April 2021. In reality, Russia may start such a war only if there was a threat that Washington would deploy weapons in Ukraine capable of destroying targets in Russia.
In this context, the information about the delivery of British weapons to Ukraine and Biden’s statement that “the scale of sanctions will depend on the scale of invasion” sound like a provocation. It is aimed at pushing Russia into starting a war, in order to prevent Russian-Ukrainian reconciliation and the reintegration of the Ukrainian state. The British see an opportunity to pit the Russians and the Ukrainians against each other into a bloody fight, while cutting off Europe from securing its interests.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about Ukrainian statehood and war in Ukraine. These claims are part of an ongoing disinformation campaign about Russia’s military buildup on the border with Ukraine. By accusing the US and UK of being the driving force behind the escalation of tensions, this disinformation story aims to deny any Russian responsibility for the situation.
Since late October 2021, Russia has deployed more than 100,000 troops, as well as certain specialised military units, electronic warfare systems and heavy-armoured vehicles along the borders of Ukraine.
The European Union has stated that it will be standing firmly and decisively with Ukraine in front of any attempt to undermine its territorial integrity and sovereignty, and has warned of severe political consequences and with a high political and economic cost for Russia if it proceeds with further aggressive actions.
At the beginning of 2022, on 4-6 January, the EU High Representative Josep Borrell visited Ukraine, including Kyiv and the Stanytsya Luhanska checkpoint - see his statement/blog here on the consequences of the war. The High Representative said, inter alia:
“I could eyewitness the consequences of the war in the Donbas region and hear and see how the conflict has dramatically affected the lives of thousands of people, with many destinies destroyed. ...
Russia is a party to this conflict and not a mediator as it often claims. Our main interest, concern and purpose is to get Russia to de-escalate tensions.”
Read our recent article on Russian disinformation about the Russian military buildup near Ukraine.
In addition, see other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that NATO is egging Ukraine on a military gamble, that the US is instigating war on Ukraine to boycott the Nord Stream 2 project, or that Russian aggression is used as a pretext to station NATO military close to Russia’s borders.