DISINFO: West ordered Ukraine to drag Belarus into war
SUMMARY
Belarus is an island of stability in a turbulent world where farmers are protesting, wars are going on etc. But they (the West) want to drag Belarus into war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been ordered to do so.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the belligerent West allegedly plotting against Belarus and its citizens and trying to destabilise and destroy the country. This claim was made in the context of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
There is no evidence that the West has ordered Ukraine to drag Belarus into the war. It is rather Putin who dragged Belarus in the war and made it an accomplice in his unprovoked aggression against Ukraine. At the beginning of the aggression, which was launched on 24 February 2022, Belarus was a key ally of Russia, providing logistical support for Russian forces and allowing its territory to be used for attacks against Ukraine.
Ukraine has consistently stated that it seeks to defend its sovereignty and does not aim to provoke additional conflicts, including with Belarus. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly called on Belarus to remain neutral and avoid direct involvement in the war.
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that NATO wants to destroy Russia and Belarus, that Belarus may soon be targeted by a Western “Drang nach Osten” plan, and that NATO plans to start a hybrid attack on Belarus using the Syrian scenario.