Lavrov as a Russian icebreaker/Getty Images
The media replicate Lavrov's remark that the war (“special operation” in the original) in Ukraine is supposedly designed to put an end to the US course towards global domination. There is already a clear dynamic, if not the evolution of both goal-setting and interpretations.
A classic trick of Russian propaganda
If at first it was “denazification” and “demilitarization” and were accompanied by propaganda “let's raise an eyebrow and take Kyiv”, then a little later it began about “it is impossible to resolve the issue quickly, they have been preparing for eight years”, and now, it turns out, that's all – this is a confrontation with the United States.
Generally speaking, such a course of Russian propaganda is far from new. In the course of unsuccessful battles in Chechnya, rumors were massively circulated that militants from all over the world were fighting there, a lot of “evidence” was constantly spreading from those who “saw Negroes on the positions.”
The same was the result Afghanistan. Approximately the same was replicated after the confrontation in the Donbass in 2014-2015.
The logic of the reception is clear as two and two: to admit that they could not take Grozny, which was defended by militias with small arms for the “superpower”, well, not at all comme il faut, therefore “they fought against the terrorist international.”
Russia expects its own fiasco in Donbas
That Ukraine, which is “not a state” is too tough – from the same opera. Therefore, this is a war with the United States. And soon, perhaps, there will be “with the whole world.”
It turns out that Lavrov voices the emerging understanding that there may not be a victory for Russia in the offensive in the Donbass?
Most likely, there is such an understanding, however, in fact, not everything is so simple and the mentioned remark is not a painting of fears and fears, but part of the information and psychological pressure.
Blackmailing Europe
On the statements of the Russian diplomat should be viewed in context. In addition to what he quoted, he also said that Moscow is still ready for negotiations with Ukraine and he sees no reason not to hold them.
And also that the Europeans, by their actions and statements, “are significantly changing the rules games”.
It's about intentions and arms supplies and rhetoric: “This war must be won on the battlefield,” the head of European diplomacy tweeted and the Russian minister was deeply hurt.
That is, if you look at it as a whole, he clearly shifts the emphasis and transfers it to other actors: the irritated tone sounds not towards Ukraine, but towards the West.
Here the hidden message is clearly visible: “We want to negotiate and we can negotiate with Ukraine, but nothing will happen because of militant Europe, which changes the rules of the game with its statements and actions.”
This, if you like, a kind of blackmail: “Stop supporting Ukraine – and we will come to an agreement. Don't stop – the war will last forever, well, or until the last Ukrainian or Russian.”
Clay feet rush into battle
The history of the military operations of this war showed that Russia turned out to be stronger on the information and psychological front than on the real one.
This force has also been shaken, but it was almost decisive at the initial stage, when the whole world expected the fall of Kyiv in 72 hours and therefore was not ready to supply weapons to Kiev.
With its many years of exercises and PR campaigns around the armed forces, Moscow created around itself an image and an image of a very terrible, strong and powerful one, and, apparently, it was due to this that it expected to quickly break Ukraine when it expected that the Armed Forces of Ukraine would themselves surrender by divisions.
At the moment, the Ukrainians have managed to stop the Russian offensive both on the ground and in their heads. The troops were thrown back in most directions, and the world saw that everything was not so scary, started up and undertook to help.
Russia, however, does not leave attempts to continue the offensive, as it did at the very beginning – on two fronts . And if the regrouping in the East is one dimension, then today's statements by Lavrov are the first salvo in a new psychological battle. Its goal is, however, under a different sauce, to minimize the support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the West.
