Western expert on Putin’s threats: ‘We should not fall into this trap’
Kalensky says that Putin’s speech last year about the “historic unity” of Russians and Ukrainians was “taken from Hitler’s notebook.”
For years, the West underestimated the threat that could come from Moscow. But a decisive response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine and “nuclear blackmail” could help reverse the years of “paralysis”. A well-known Czech disinformation and “hybrid threat” specialist said this Jakub Kalensky he says.
Kalenski is located in Helsinki Europe He works in the Center of Quality for Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE). “Hybrid CoE” Europe Union and NATOis a joint think tank of
The expert says of Ukraine It would be wrong to allow reactions to the invasion to be influenced by fear of Putin’s actions.
Kalensky said this in an extensive interview with RFE/RL’s Georgian service this month: “We fell into this trap Putin I don’t even want us to start discussing what would happen if he used nuclear weapons. Because I believe that this only helps Putin spread fear among those who oppose the illegal, criminal, genocidal actions of the Kremlin.”
Kyiv and the West Russia officials are accused of “nuclear blackmail” – seizing nuclear facilities in Ukraine and threatening to use nuclear weapons. One of the nuclear facilities captured by the Russians in Ukraine is Zaporozhye NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.
USA President Cho Biden warned about the possibility of an “Armageddon scenario” if Putin uses nuclear weapons in Ukraine this month.
“We have to make sure that Russia no longer has an army or an economy that can harm anyone. We have to do this. We don’t have to worry about what Putin can do anymore.” Kalensky told RFE/RL.
Kalensky is the founder of the EU Task Force “East StratCom” and the database “EUvsDisinfo”, which was created to prevent Russian disinformation after the invasion and annexation of Crimea in 2015. He was most recently a senior researcher at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensics Research Laboratory (DFRLab).
It points to Russia’s series of cyber attacks over a decade. 20To Estonia in 07 Russia Attack from IP addresses, 20In 2008, Russia’s five-day war against Georgia, then the invasion of Crimea and of Ukraine Inciting and supporting the separatists in the east is among them.
“In my 15 years as a disinformation and propaganda specialist, I have seen empty threats launched many times. [Moskva bu hədələrdən] it takes advantage just because it paralyzes us. That is why I say that we should not fall into this trap. Because it helps Putin to achieve his goal and Europe and damage Ukraine fighting for our Euro-Atlantic values,” – says Kalensky.
Disinformation is considered a key component of the phenomenon known as “hybrid” warfare. “Hybrid” warfare includes covert cyber attacks, armed proxy groups and military which takes advantage of digital and high-tech tactics, including a show of force military is a 21st century term for strategy.
Kalensky, which Putin has been carrying for a long time information He says that the language and scope of his war was successful. Malaysia since the annexation of Crimea Weather East of the plane of the roads Ukraine It should be noted that many events, from the pandemic to the fake referendums held in Ukraine, have been published in the European media, and the language used at this time.
“Unfortunately, Russia’s disinformation war is very skillful and can achieve enormous results. Unfortunately, sometimes they can influence the format of our debate. The talk is ‘The more you support Ukraine, the bigger your problems will be, Russia It’s about the rhetoric of ‘getting angry and doing terrible things’.” – says Kalensky.
The expert believes that such answers “should be discredited as a repetition of Russia’s position.”
Kalensky says that recently Russia’s propaganda machine has started to “make mistakes” and that it is “not doing so well.”
Analyst Ukraine says that he sees the battle for “a pure clash between democracy and autocracy, human rights and lawlessness, the rule of law and the tyranny of power”. “In fact, we should have supported those who fought for our values much more strongly than this,” – he says.
The expert believes that democratic governments should have immediately stopped all business with Russia and cut it off from the world economy.
Many Western countries against Russia like unprecedented commercial, economic, etc. although they imposed sanctions, Europe’s dependence on Russian oil and gas, in particular, left EU members in a vulnerable position against the background of the emerging energy crisis.
In March 2022, each of the 27 EU members adopted the Versailles Declaration to end dependence on Russian fuel “as soon as possible”.
EU countries have since imported tens of billions of dollars worth of Russian fuel. Moreover, disputes still divide the bloc. “I am not saying that this will solve all problems. But as a strategic communication expert, I still think that Western money going to Russia is a very bad message. I think this is wrong.” – says Kalensky.
According to Kalensky, Putin “He has been making Hitler-like speeches for a long time now, and this is the Kremlin of Ukraine state [və millət] coincides with his claims of non-existence”.
He says that Putin’s speech last year about the “historic unity” of Russians and Ukrainians was “taken from Hitler’s notebook.”
Kalensky Putin 20 He also mentioned the continuous vindication of the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin during his one-year rule. “Dictators are usually inspired by other dictators. It kind of shows that you in the future crime if you want to commit, you better start by justifying the crimes of the past,” – he says.
Russia, which launched an attack on Ukraine on February 24 of this year, has faced severe sanctions from the West.