Ukrainian soldier Photo: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This article was first published by Truthmeter.mk (North Macedonia), within the framework of Western Balkans Anti-Disinformation Project.

Since the beginning of Russia’s aggressive military invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin’s propaganda has repeatedly tried to twist the theses, that is, to impose a series of justifications for its attacks. The truth is that it was Russia that carried out an unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. To expect Ukraine to sit idly by would mean that the citizens of Ukraine agree to be occupied and territorially taken over by Russia, which did not happen. Ukraine, as an independent state with territorial integrity and sovereignty, has the right to defend itself and use the available means of assistance from its friends. If it does not do so, then it would face even greater territorial claims by Russia

We analyze a Facebook post that says:

People, do you understand that the war between Ukraine and Russia is not being waged by Ukraine, but by the EU, with the help of the US, where Ukrainians are being killed?

It is not true that the war in Ukraine is a war of the European Union, as the post wants to portray.

This claim supports pro-Kremlin disinformation that Russia is not to blame for the war in Ukraine, that the war was started by the EU and NATO, and that Russia is only defending itself. On February 24, 2022, Russian troops launched an attack on Ukraine ordered by President Vladimir Putin, who announced a “special military operation” in the early hours of the morning, despite warnings from world leaders that the move could lead to the largest war in Europe since 1945.

The attack was preceded by Russian President Putin’s decision on February 21, 2022, to recognize the independence of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics, which have been under the control of pro-Russian separatists since 2014. This decision allowed Putin to directly send Russian military units to Eastern Ukraine, where sporadic clashes between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists were already underway.

Since the beginning of Russia’s aggressive military invasion of Ukraine, Kremlin propaganda has repeatedly attempted to distort the narrative, i.e. to impose a series of justifications for its attacks. The truth is that it was Russia that carried out an unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

The EU provides military and financial assistance to Ukraine, which has the right to defend itself from Russian military invasion and protect its territorial integrity.

Since February 2022, the European Council and the Council of the European Union have been meeting regularly to discuss the situation in Ukraine from different perspectives.

Russia must stop its atrocious war immediately. The European Union will stand by Ukraine with steadfast support for as long as it takes, and remains unwavering in its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, stated the European Council’s conclusions from February 9, 2023. 

EU leaders  have repeatedly  called on Russia to immediately cease its military actions, unconditionally withdraw all forces and military equipment from Ukraine, and fully respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence. They stressed Ukraine’s right to choose its own destiny and praised the people of Ukraine for their courage in defending their country.

The EU has shown unity and strength and provided Ukraine with humanitarian, political, financial, and military support.

Support for Ukraine is consistent with its right to self-defense. It is incorrect to say that the EU or any European country provoked the military invasion. In fact, Russia was not attacked by anyone.

Russia started the war against Ukraine without being threatened by Ukraine or any other country in Europe.

It illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 and proceeded to seize territory in Donetsk and Luhansk. And in 2022, with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War 2. Russia has struck hospitals, schools, and shopping malls. Russia bombs civilian power and water infrastructure. Russia is killing Ukrainian civilians. Ukraine has the right, and the responsibility, to protect its people. Self-defense is a fundamental right, which is enshrined in the UN Charter. And NATO has the right to support Ukraine as it seeks to uphold its right to self-defense and to prevail as a sovereign state in Europe. Self-defense and the support of self-defense is in line with international law, says NATO’s website.

NATO also condemns Russia’s brutal and unprovoked military aggression against Ukraine, an independent and democratic state and a close NATO partner. NATO and its allies support Ukraine in its indisputable right to self-defense. Military assistance includes weapons, equipment, and financial assistance to the Ukrainian military. Humanitarian assistance includes medical, food and other items for civilians, while financial assistance comes in the form of grants, loans, and guarantees.

Since the beginning of Russia’s aggressive military invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin’s propaganda has repeatedly tried to twist the theses, that is, to impose a series of justifications for its attacks. The truth is that it was Russia that carried out an unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. To expect Ukraine to sit idly by would mean that the citizens of Ukraine agree to be occupied and territorially taken over by Russia, which did not happen. Ukraine, as an independent state with territorial integrity and sovereignty, has the right to defend itself and use the available means of assistance from its friends. If it does not do so, then it would face even greater territorial claims from Russia.

It is not true what is stated in the post that the EU and the US are waging war in Ukraine in order to kill Ukrainians. According to this logic, the Ukrainians should surrender, that is, not defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their country, and in this way allow Russia to completely occupy them, which of course did not happen. From the very beginning of Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainians have been providing defense and resistance, much more fiercely than expected.

The narrative that Ukrainians are being forced to defend themselves is part of Russian disinformation propaganda. The myth of this group’s “narrative package” is that “Russia’s victory is inevitable and that Western aid to Ukraine only escalates the situation and prolongs the suffering.”

The West does not abuse and force Ukrainians to die, but provides them with the assistance they need for self-defense. The West would not provide assistance to Ukraine if the country did not need it and if Russia had no territorial claims to Ukraine. In addition, the patriotic feelings and actions of the Ukrainian people as well as the leadership of the country that decided not to surrender, but to defend itself, cannot be minimized.

From all of the above, we conclude that the post we are analyzing is untrue.