DISINFO: The West constantly demonises Putin and Russia
SUMMARY
The West constantly demonises Vladimir Putin and Russia and has been doing so for years. Recently, two Atlantic Council analysts who argued that Washington should adopt a less hostile approach towards Russia were immediately denounced by their colleagues.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the West and Russophobia
Western governments have not “demonised” President Putin nor Russia. Western governments have reacted to the actions of the Kremlin undermining international stability and security, such as illegal annexation of Crimea, downing of flight MH17, interference in the US as well as in European electoral processes, poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the UK. The Kremlin has also been criticised and sanctioned for specific domestic policies that violate human rights in Russia, such as the poisoning of the opposition politician Alexei Navalny. Read more about the EU-Russia relations here.
The claim that two Atlantic Council analysts were “denounced” for advocating a “less hostile approach” towards Russia is not true. The two analysts, in a report published by the Atlantic Council, argued that the US should not pursue a Russia policy that prioritises human rights, but should instead focus on improving the prospects for constructive engagement with Russia on issues of “strategic stability”, such as nuclear arms control.
A separate group of Atlantic Council fellows simply expressed, in a public note, that they did not agree with the report’s arguments, which in their view is based on faulty premises about Russia’s foreign policy.
Such discussions are part of normal, independent academic discussion.
Read similar cases claiming that the US and NATO try to demonise Russia, that Russia is being constantly provoked and accused by the West, and that alleged poisonings of Skripal, Navalny were Western provocations against Russia.