Day 120 Roundup: EU Leaders Approve Ukraine Candidate Status, China Hosts BRICS Summit
The Facts
EU leaders on Thurs. voted to officially grant Ukraine candidate status, a first step on the road to full membership, following a positive recommendation from the European Commission last week. Moldova's bid was also approved.
While this doesn't mean automatic entry into the bloc, the possible entry of the two countries would mean a major redrawing of Russia's sphere of influence among former Soviet republics.
The Spin
Anti-Russia narrative
This invasion is an egregious violation of international law. Putin's ultimate aim is to restore the Soviet empire, even if it takes massive bloodshed and false pretexts such as calling the 2014 Ukrainian revolution after a fraudulent election a "coup". This unprovoked attack is the latest chapter in Putin's Orwellian attempt to rewrite history.
Pro-Russia narrative
NATO and the US have ignored Russia's security concerns by breaking its promise not to expand eastward in return for German reunification. These concerns are legitimate and taking them seriously would have avoided the Ukraine tragedy.