DISINFO: The US annexed Eastern Europe to strangulate Russia
SUMMARY
The plan for the annexation of Eastern Europe that would allow Russia’s strangulation was designed on a map in Washington and executed in Europe by the US political (the European Union), military (NATO) and media arms (the outlets subdued to Western economic powers).
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about encircled Russia.
The claim refers to NATO’s enlargement to include Eastern European countries that used to be occupied or controlled by the USSR. Contrary to the disinformation claim, NATO does not “annex” territories. Decisions regarding NATO membership are up to each individual applicant and the 30 NATO Allies. Russia has no right to intervene and cannot veto such a process.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives in our database, such as claims that the EU is NATO’s white label, that the EU should admit that the US is its sovereign, that NATO’s eastern expansion is a threat to Russia, that Russian aggression is used as a pretext to station NATO military close to Russia’s borders, or that Russia’s development and stability is being thwarted by the West.
Discover seven popular myths about Russia and the Ukraine conflict here - including more about the "encirced Russia".