Resolution on Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine

The European Parliament adopted by 480 votes to 58, with 48 abstentions, a resolution on Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled by EPP, S&D, ECR, Renew and Greens/EFA groups.

The Russian regime has been making widespread use of disinformation, including based on distorted historical arguments, and foreign information manipulation and interference in an attempt to justify its crime of aggression, to incite the Russian population to support its illegal regime and illegal war of aggression against neighbouring Ukraine and to interfere in the democratic processes of other countries.

Parliament strongly condemned Russia’s:

- unprovoked and illegal war against Ukraine, calling for an immediate withdrawal of Russian forces, the release of detained Ukrainians, and accountability for war crimes. It rejects Russia's justifications for the war and denounces its use of historical manipulation to undermine Ukraine's sovereignty and identity;

- systematic falsification and use of distorted historical arguments in its attempt to manipulate Russian public opinion into supporting criminal actions, to undermine international support and assistance for Ukraine and to erase Ukraine’s distinct cultural and historical identity;

- claim that it is entitled to zones of exclusive interest at the expense of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states as incompatible with international law;

- persecution of civil society organisations investigating Soviet crimes or the crimes of the current regime.

Support for ICC investigations into war crimes and special tribunal

Members reiterated their full support for the ongoing investigation by the Prosecutor of the ICC into the situation in Ukraine based on alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. In addition, they welcomed Ukraine’s formal accession to the ICC as of 1 January 2025 as an important contribution to international efforts to establish accountability for serious international crimes. The EU is called on to make further diplomatic efforts to encourage the ratification of the Rome Statute and all its amendments globally.

Furthermore, Parliament reiterated its call for the establishment of a special tribunal to investigate and prosecute the crime of aggression committed by the leadership of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. It called on the Commission, the Council and the European External Action Service to provide all political, financial and practical support necessary for the establishment of a special tribunal.

The EU is also called on to:

- further increase and coordinate their efforts, including with like-minded partners, to promptly and rigorously counter Russian disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference in order to protect the integrity of their democratic processes and strengthen the resilience of European societies, inter alia by actively promoting media literacy and by supporting quality media and professional journalism, in particular investigative journalism that uncovers Russian propaganda, its methods and networks, and by supporting research into new hybrid influence technologies;

- expand its sanctions against Russian media outlets conducting disinformation and information manipulation campaigns supporting and justifying Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Fact checking

Members expressed deep concern about the recent announcements from social media companies’ leadership concerning relaxing their rules on fact-checking and moderation and how this will further enable Russia’s disinformation campaign around the world. They called on the Commission and the Member States to strictly enforce the Digital Services Act in response to these announcements by Meta and earlier by X, including as an important part of the fight against Russian disinformation.

Lastly, the resolution condemned Russia's exploitation of religion and nationalist ideologies to influence other nations and called for advocacy for education on European history, remembrance of Soviet crimes, and a ban on symbols of totalitarian regimes.