As part of the program Regional Initiative for combating disinformation “Western Balkans Combatting disinformation Center: Exposing malicious influences through fact-checking and Analytical Journalism“, we present you a new analysis of fake news and disinformation narratives.
Europe in search of a second Ukraine
https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/695692/evropa-u-potrazi-za-drugom-ukrajinom
In the past few months, Russian and pro-Kremlin media have shown a coordinated and systematic attempt to spread anti-European narratives, which are now more in focus than ever before, whereas anti-American narratives had previously dominated. This shift in focus is a result of recent cooperation between Putin and Trump regarding the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, which has led Russian media to direct their propaganda toward discrediting the European Union and its institutions. The goal of this campaign is to portray the West as a warmongering, divided, and powerless force, while Russia is presented as a rational and just actor defending itself against external pressure.
Politika reports that “from the Western side, it is increasingly clear that Ukraine is no longer seen as the only battlefield, but that new conflict points are being sought in other regions of Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. Areas such as Armenia or Azerbaijan carry explosive potential, where even the smallest spark could serve as a pretext for expanding the conflict.” In this way, the West is depicted as a force constantly seeking new fronts, while the context of Russian aggression in Ukraine is entirely ignored.
The Hungarian portal Origo reports: “France is already preparing its population for the next war: hospitals have been officially instructed to be capable of treating hundreds of wounded daily, no later than March 2026. According to secret documents, Paris expects the country to become a ‘center for the deployment of wounded’ of NATO in a potential conflict between Russia and the West.” Similarly, the newspaper San writes that “the French Ministry of Health has informed staff about the need to prepare for the mass reception of soldiers.” Origo also highlights that Germany has developed a scenario called the “German Operation,” which includes “the mobility of 200,000 units of equipment, 800,000 soldiers, and the construction of a joint defensive line in the Baltics.” Clearly, when taken out of the context of regular planning and military simulations, these reports are presented as “evidence” that Europe is systematically preparing for a conflict with Russia.
Sputnik further reports statements from analyst Stevan Gajić: “America is letting them down, and the European Union is lagging behind the rest of the world and degraded, which is reflected not only in technological development but also in the immediate economic sense. Therefore, it is evident that the statement by the German chancellor that Russia should be ‘economically exhausted’ is merely an emotional reaction born of frustration.” The report also cites Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stating that “Merc is not up to that,” implying that European leaders are incapable of even basic policy toward Russia.
Additional examples include claims that European countries are planning “bunkers, survival kits, evacuation plans, and hospital reorganizations,” all presented as proof of an inevitable Third World War. These reports, combined with media citations, reinforce the narrative that the West is disorganized, divided, and technologically inferior, while Russia is capable of reacting quickly and efficiently, adjusting tactics and strategy according to conditions on the ground.
The combination of these narratives creates a propaganda framework in which the West is simultaneously a threat and weak, while Russia is portrayed as a defender. This construction serves multiple functions: it boosts the morale of the Russian public, undermines confidence in Western institutions, and encourages the international audience to doubt the unity and credibility of NATO and the EU. The ultimate result is the relativization of Russian aggression and the legitimization of its policies, while the actual conflict in Ukraine is presented as a consequence of Western hypocrisy and orchestrated war plans.
This analysis shows that “Europe in Search of a Second Ukraine” is not an isolated claim but part of a broader disinformation strategy that combines fear-mongering, doubt about the West’s capability and resolve, and propagandistic glorification of Russia, using structured anti-European narratives to reshape perceptions of international relations and justify aggression in Ukraine.
Author: Nataša Stanojević
