Union of Ukrainians in Portugal warns NATO about risks of Russian propaganda

The Union of Ukrainians in Portugal (UUP) cautioned NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte ahead of his Jan. 27 visit to Lisbon in a statement regarding the pitfalls that Russian propaganda poses. 

The Ukrainian community’s appeal to Rutte urged him to pay special attention to Russian propaganda seeping into  NATO’s 31 member states, as reported by Pavlo Sadokha, UWC Vice-President and UUP President.

“Every day, we see commentators on media channels who, under the guise of ‘independent experts,’ repeat Russian propaganda verbatim, just as it is presented by Russian state-run outlets,” the statement reads.

Rutte’s impending visit to Portugal is part of a regular series of engagements with NATO member states.

The visit will include meetings with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, Foreign Affairs Minister Paulo Rangel, and Minister of National Defense Nuno Melo.

In light of the visit, UUP reminded NATO of the approximately 20 million Ukrainians living in member countries, who “have become citizens of Western nations over the past two centuries”.

The Ukrainian community views NATO forces along the Russian border “not as aggression against Russians, but as protection for Ukrainians from genocide by Russia,” the statement said.

“We urge that, in future decisions to support Ukraine in its courageous fight against Russian aggression, the position of the millions-strong Ukrainian diaspora – an inseparable part of NATO member countries’ societies – be taken into account,” Sadokha wrote.

He added that Russian aggression has already cost “many Ukrainian lives.”

“Both in Ukraine and abroad, Ukrainians have endured immense trauma that has altered their lives and will have long-lasting consequences for future generations,” the statement concluded.