February 2025.
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.
Total turnaround! Serbian eurofanatics in mouse holes: Why don’t they strike at America now as well – because of Russia
In recent weeks, international politics has been marked by the dynamics of the quadrangle of the U.S.-Ukraine-Russia-European Union. The new administration of Donald Trump has initiated a track of dialogue with Russia, which includes direct negotiations about ending the Russia-Ukraine war. The unilateral actions of the U.S., without prior coordination and inclusion of Ukraine and European countries in the process, have caused dissatisfaction and created a veil of uncertainty regarding the elements of a potential ceasefire, the positions of European actors, and the future role of the U.S. on the continent.
On the other hand, the initial moves of Trump’s administration have met with cautious optimism from Russian officials and political commentators, as well as approval from European conservative or far-right political allies and supporters of Trump. Such reactions are also present in the Serbian media landscape. Numerous pro-government and pro-Russian media outlets are sensationalistically and with evident exaggeration reporting on Trump’s initiative and the possible consequences of a future “recomposition” of the European map and political power constellations.
An illustrative article on Sputnik Serbia titled ” Total turnaround! Serbian eurofanatics in mouse holes: Why don’t they strike at America now as well – because of Russia”. The authored text on the Serbian service of the Russian state media is filled with biased assessments, misleading information, and exaggerated and debatable conclusions, reflecting previously established anti-European and pro-Russian narratives.
The text is structured in the form of a series of questions to the “esteemed analysts and Euro-Atlantic soldiers in Serbia.” The author asks, “Where are all those who daily convinced us that Russia would lose the war to Ukraine and to the ‘great hero’ Vladimir Zelensky?” This is followed by the question, “Why is it that now all of them have lowered their heads and are too afraid to boldly strike at Donald Trump, who told the world that actor Zelensky is just an ordinary little dictator?” The author is clearly referring to the U.S. president’s post on social media about Zelensky being a “dictator,” a statement that Trump later personally “downplayed,” claiming “he couldn’t believe he had said it.” Donald Trump has a history of communication that goes beyond the boundaries of political correctness and aims to “shock,” often using similar “assertions” as a tool of pressure on other American and world politicians.
The author further claims that “they have all fallen silent and quietly suffer as America is now preparing for a complete restoration of political and economic cooperation with Moscow, acknowledges that the isolation of Russia has failed, and does not support anti-Russian resolutions at the United Nations.” The actions of the U.S. certainly reflect the intentions of Trump’s new administration to work on rebuilding diplomatic relations and cooperation with Russia in economic projects, security issues, and other areas of mutual interest. However, this strategic calculus will certainly be burdened with substantial problems, and it is more likely that we will see complex and volatile relations rather than a quick and easy “complete restoration of cooperation,” as claimed in the text.
“Why have they lost their voice today, when neither America nor Russia is even thinking about sitting down at the table with the loser Zelensky and the war hawks from the European Union… or did they just have strong backing in the Euro-Atlantic one-mindedness that has now shattered into pieces… or were they simply well-paid?” The author of Sputnik raises these questions and offers his own “answers.” The events in the coming days – intensified diplomacy between European countries, Ukraine, and the U.S. – have already disproven some of the claims made, while, on the other hand, long-standing insinuations that Euro-Atlantic-oriented individuals are “paid from abroad” are weak in terms of facts, especially since these accusations come from an author on a domestic service of the Russian (i.e., foreign) state media.
Author: Igor Mirosavljević
