r/europe • u/kyoukidotexe Europe • 3d ago

News Russia launches propaganda campaign in Europe “Russia is not my enemy”

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/4028250-russia-launches-propaganda-campaign-in-europe-russia-is-not-my-enemy.html
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u/Mars_target Denmark 2d ago edited 2d ago

But it is.

Good, let them waste their money on this.

Edit: I see a lot of replies with people giving examples of russians doing this with success. I am from Denmark, and in my echo chamber, we are fairly united with a broad political coalition that sits heavy on the center. We are not vulnerable to Russia propaganda as much as in countries with powerful right-wing parties. We hate Russia and what they represent with a passion, and I think that is partially why we dont see a lot of influencing campaigns here because they know its a waste. But yes, it would be foolish to underestimate them.

More F16s to Ukraine!

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u/BulkyBumblebee Germany 2d ago

Unfortunately I'm not sure if it's actually wasted, seems to work on too many people...

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u/throwawayy992 2d ago

Yep. Russian flags now are pretty much a staple of right wing rallies nowadays

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u/DryCloud9903 2d ago

In Lithuania people "hunt" even the tiny russian flag on their car plates, if they somehow manage to get through. 

The aim of the hunt - reporting to police.

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u/throwawayy992 2d ago

For Germany, it's another story. Our government wants to remove renewable energy in order to gain more dependence on cheap gas, which only Russia can provide. Simultaneously, rhetoric was boosted towards AfD, the russian sponsored pro kremlin party.

Voices to end support for ukraine come from all sides of the aisle now. Refugee support was cut, similar to Poland. Russian money, originally given to ukraine to finance defense efforts, now is held back in the name of deescalation.

Large influence campaigns by russia have convinced both public and politicians to dial down aid.

Germany will elect AfD next, as many voices in CDU demand a switch to AfD as a better coalition partner than SPD. Germany has been conquered already

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u/DryCloud9903 2d ago

Given that Germany is becoming our key defence partner (the 5000 troops by end of 2027 - thank you 👏), not gonna lie that makes me uneasy...

Are those you mention amongst politicians, still niche voices or those who've got influence over decisions?

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u/throwawayy992 2d ago

No. It basically is the main party.

  • Increasing energy dependence => minister of energy, CDU
  • Decision to end refugee support => chancellor, CDU
  • Destruction of Schengen from within, by closing borders => minister of the interior, CDU
  • voices against ukraine support: Pro dearmament (Die Linke, AfD), resumption of friendly relations with Russia (AfD, parts of Die Linke, SPD and CDU), voices for the recognition of Newrussia (=LPR+DPR; AfD)

German parties by support in the population across germany:

  • CDU (25%, falling)
  • AfD (22%, rising)
  • SPD (14%, falling)
  • Greens (10%, falling)
  • Die Linke (7%, rising)

Support for AfD coalition comes mainly out of East german CDU, but some influential west Germans are proponents as well.

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u/IndubitablyNerdy 2d ago

They also line the pocket of our far right parties that for some reasons, despite being nationalists (or cosplaying at being nationalists at least) are all super friedly to a foreign dictator that is invading an european nation and is threatening us on a daily basis... This also helps.

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u/BulkyBumblebee Germany 2d ago

It makes sense, they want to destabilize us as much as Putin does. I agree that their nationalism is just cosplay in that they don't actually care about what happens to our nations. At this point I think most of them just say anything to get power so that they can fill their own pockets, kinda like what's happening across the Atlantic.

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u/Mars_target Denmark 2d ago

Sorry, I live in sheltered Denmark where everyone hates Russia. I've never seen a Russia flag here, or anyone try to support the invaders.

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u/Odd_Entertainer1616 2d ago

In Germany it's very common to hear people defend Russia.

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u/IndubitablyNerdy 2d ago

In Italy as well, although it comes from a very specific side of society usually which I imagine is the the case in germany as well?