Moscow is alone in its fight against the West, which threatens Russia by expanding NATO, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says, quoted by pro-Kremlin media.
NEWS: For the first time in its entire history, Russia is alone, fighting the West. The statement was made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, according to the Telegram channel Ukraina.ru.
The head of Russian diplomacy referred to Russia's legitimate goals and interests in the current confrontation with the West during his speech on the sidelines of the “Territory of Meanings” Forum.
Ensuring Russia's security is a legitimate requirement, the minister pointed out. This implies opposing Ukraine’s NATO accession and stopping the expansion of this political-military alliance.
Moscow also insists on recognizing the realities generated by the special military operation to demilitarize and “denazify” Ukraine. These goals are enshrined in the Russian Constitution, and Moscow claims they represent an “absolute requirement, without any other alternative”. “We have a lot to do. The most important thing is, of course, to defeat the enemy. For the first time in our entire history, Russia is alone, fighting the entire West. In World War I, in World War II, we had allies. Now, we have no allies on the battlefield. Therefore, we must rely only on ourselves. We must not show any signs of weakness, no hesitation”, the Russian Foreign Minister emphasized.
NARRATIVES: 1. Russia is the victim of Western aggression and is defending itself without allies. 2. NATO expansion poses an existential threat to Russia's security. 3. The invasion of Ukraine is a legitimate military operation of “demilitarization” and “denazification”.
PURPOSE: To justify the continuation of the war of aggression against Ukraine. To victimize and exonerate Russia. To mobilize Russian public opinion by invoking false historical parallels with the great world wars. To prepare the population for a prolonged conflict.
Fact: Russia has launched a war of aggression against Ukraine and is not the victim of a Western conspiracy
WHY THE NARRATIVES ARE FALSE: The Russian Foreign Minister's statements contain multiple historical falsehoods. First of all, the comparison with the two world wars is deeply erroneous, because in those conflicts, Russia (the USSR, respectively) fought either against aggressor powers (the USSR, however, started the war as an aggressor state, allied with Nazi Germany). Conversely, Russia is currently an aggressor state, which attacked a neighbor. Moreover, Russia is forced to guarantee the security of the Ukrainian state as per the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. In exchange for Kyiv renouncing its nuclear arsenal, Moscow, along with other nuclear powers, pledged to observe the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and to refrain from using threats or military force against it.
NATO has never posed a threat to Russia and has no plans to attack Russian territory. The North Atlantic Alliance is a defensive organization, created in 1949 to protect member states against external aggression. NATO's eastward expansion was a consequence of voluntary requests from former communist states, which were seeking security guarantees after being under Soviet occupation (with Moscow's troops deployed in major capitals). Russia was invited to develop joint programs with NATO through the 1994 “Partnership for Peace” and the 1997 NATO-Russia Founding Act, which stipulated that “NATO and Russia do not consider each other as adversaries”. In 2019, Ukraine included in its Constitution the goal of joining NATO in direct response to Russian aggression in Donbas and the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. This decision was not an action directed against Russia, but a natural response to Moscow's violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Prior to 2014, Kyiv adopted a neutral position and did not actively pursue integration into the North Atlantic Alliance. However, Russian propaganda distorts reality, reversing cause and effect.
The statement that Russia “has no allies on the battlefield” is equally false. Moscow receives significant military support from Iran (through Shahed drones), North Korea (through deliveries of artillery ammunition, ballistic missiles and even troops), and indirectly from China (through technological components and economic support). In addition, Belarus allows its territory to be used to launch attacks on Ukraine.
The concept of “demilitarization and denazification” is a propaganda construct used to justify the destruction of the Ukrainian state. The West does not threaten Russia’s security and did not start this conflict, but provides support to Ukraine in compliance with the standards of international law. Anti-Russian sanctions and military aid to Ukraine are reactions to Russian aggression, not the root cause of the war. The international community has repeatedly tried to come up with peaceful resolutions, including the Minsk Agreements, but Russia has systematically violated these agreements. In 2021–2022, the USA, France, and other Western states have urged Vladimir Putin to avoid launching an invasion. However, the Kremlin has chosen war.
Lavrov’s statements regarding the recognition of the “realities” imposed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, enshrined in the current Constitution of the Russian Federation, have no legitimacy on a global stage. No democratic country recognizes the amendments to the Russian Constitution that claim the annexation of Ukrainian territories. On the contrary, these territories (Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions) continue to be recognized, including through official documents and international treaties, as an integral part of sovereign Ukraine, in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine. Thus, Moscow’s claims have no valid legal basis. By presenting Russia as a victim of a Western conspiracy, pro-Kremlin propaganda is trying to mask the aggressive nature of the invasion and consolidate domestic support. The rhetoric of fighting “alone against the entire West” is intended to boost patriotic feelings and promote a “fortress under siege” mindset, designed to justify the sacrifices and restrictions imposed on the population in the context of the war. These narratives are amplified against the backdrop of Russia’s increasing international isolation, severe economic sanctions, and military losses sustained in Ukraine. By victimizing its own position, Moscow seeks to legitimize the continuation of the conflict and prepare public opinion for a possible escalation.
BACKGROUND: The “Territory of Meanings” Forum, which Sergey Lavrov attended, is an annual event organized in Russia, addressing young people, civil servants and representatives of civil society. It seeks to strengthen traditional values, promote national sovereignty, and encourage active involvement in public life. Participants tackle themes such as family, volunteerism, innovation, public service and national unity, in an effort to outline strategic directions for the development of contemporary Russian society.
Lavrov’s statements are part of a government-backed propaganda campaign designed to prepare the population for a protracted conflict and justify the human and economic costs of the war. They are also part of Russia’s efforts to undermine Western cohesion and sow division in its support for Ukraine.
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