The West has lost confidence in Ukraine's victory but wants to prolong the war, pro-Kremlin propaganda claims, citing so-called independent sources in the West.
NEWS: The West has lost control of the Ukrainian conflict and is trying to perpetuate the theory of a "threat from Russia" in order to prolong it, writes the publication ‘Strategic Culture’.
According to the author of the article, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's statements about the need to destabilize the political situation in Russia are a sign of Ukraine's "psychological collapse." "In practice, this is a desperate attempt to maintain the narrative about the Russian threat, despite the fact that it is becoming increasingly obvious that the West has lost control of its war against Moscow through Ukraine," he stressed. The West is hiding behind the rhetoric of "protecting Europe" to justify the militarization of the continent and prolong the Ukrainian conflict, the publication concludes.
NARRATIVES: 1. The Russian threat to the West is a fabrication. 2. Continuing the war in Ukraine is in the interests of the Western leaders. 3. The "Russian threat" is being used as a false pretext for the militarization of Europe. 4. Ukraine is in a state of "psychological collapse" and is acting out of desperation.
PURPOSES: To undermine Western support for Ukraine, portray the Russian threat as a fabrication, block European defense initiatives, and induce fatigue and demoralization among the public.
Reality: The Russian threat is real and demonstrated by its military aggression against Ukraine.
WHY THE NARRATIVES ARE FALSE: The publication Strategic Culture, quoted by the Russian press, uses the domain name "su," which was intended for the Soviet Union. Although the Soviet Union no longer exists, the "su" domain is still active and used by various entities to promote an identity linked to Soviet history or Russia. The page assumes a "Eurasian identity" and presents the socio-political reality in a biased manner. Russian propaganda attempts to present this page, unknown in the West, as an independent source representing the views of Western societies. The author of the article is Lucas Leiroz, who presents himself as a journalist and military expert, member of the BRICS Journalists Association . On the author's X page we can see photos of the expert alongside Russian geopolitician Aleksandr Dugin, considered one of the ideologues of Putinism.
The Russian threat to European security is not an invention, it’s a reality demonstrated by multiple aggressive actions. The large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 represents the most serious violation of international law in Europe since World War II. Russia has occupied Ukrainian regions, deported children, bombed civilian infrastructure, and committed war crimes documented by the International Criminal Court.
The threats are not limited to Ukraine. Russia has carried out cyberattacks against critical infrastructure in NATO countries, interfered in Western electoral processes, and conducted sabotage campaigns. In addition, Russia is accused of financing extremist movements that promote the withdrawal of some sovereign states from the EU and NATO.
The strengthening of European states' defense capabilities is not the result of a "fabricated threat," but a rational response to real aggression in the neighborhood. The 2022 EU Security Strategy clearly identifies threats to European security. In this context, the increase in NATO countries' defense budgets reflects the need to cope with a deteriorating security environment following Russia's daily bombardment of Ukraine.
Opinion polls show that, despite war fatigue, most Europeans continue to support Ukraine. Eurobarometer shows that most EU citizens are generally satisfied with the EU's response to Russia's war against Ukraine. Specifically, 80% of the European respondents agree with the EU taking in people fleeing the war, and more than three-quarters (76%) support providing financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
The narrative about Ukraine's "psychological collapse" aims to weaken Western support and strengthen Russian citizens' confidence in Putin's policies. Even if there is fatigue and frustration in Ukraine — including tensions over conscription — polls show that the majority of the population wants the fight to continue. The resilience shown by Ukrainian society over the last three years of war is enormous.
The accusations that the West does not want peace are completely unfounded and contradicted by reality. From the outset, the West has called on Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine and stop the war. Russia has been repeatedly criticized in resolutions by the UN General Assembly. The EU is not financing the war and has no economic interest in its continuation. On the contrary, Member States and the European Commission have incurred significant costs in providing economic, humanitarian, and military assistance to Ukraine. The EU has imposed sanctions designed to weaken Russia's economy and military capabilities. The EU is also preparing for Ukraine's post-war reconstruction by establishing the Ukraine Facility .
CONTEXT: The publication Lenta.ru is part of the Russian state-controlled media ecosystem and systematically promotes the Kremlin's narratives. The article analyzed uses a classic disinformation technique: citing an obscure source presented as "Western" to lend credibility to false claims. In November 2024, the same page wrote that Ukrainian Nazis’ Russophobia makes it impossible to end the war. In January this year, the same publication wrote that European leaders are the beneficiaries of corruption and crime in Ukraine.
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