Trump chastises Europe: 'Putin fears the US, not the Old Continent'
Today, the EU Council decided on restrictive measures against individuals involved in Moscow's ongoing hybrid activities.
Key points
The EU Council decided today to adopt restrictive measures against four more individuals responsible for Russia's continued hybrid activities, in particular manipulation and interference of foreign information (FIMI) against the EU, its Member States and partners.
The Council today listed Russian propagandist Sergey Klyuchenkov, who has played an active role in spreading Russian propaganda and disinformation aimed at justifying Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. In his television and radio programmes, he has repeatedly incited violence in Ukraine, including against civilians. In addition, he has called for the de-Ukrainianisation of occupied territories, the occupation of Baltic states, and suggested retaliatory attacks against countries supporting Ukraine, including the US, Turkey, Germany, France, and the UK.
The newly sanctioned figures also include the Lithuanian-born Russian journalist Ernest Mackevicius, who, as anchorman of the evening news on Russian state television, regularly spread false narratives about Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, Ukraine itself and its armed forces. Finally, the Council also imposed restrictive measures on the propagandist Graham Phillips and the media personality Adrien Bocquet, of British and French origin respectively.
Freedom of expression or propaganda?
Graham Phillips played an active role in justifying Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine through disinformation and propaganda, regularly filming content in Russian-occupied areas, including interviews with captured British fighters, and writing propaganda articles on Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. Adrien Bocquet has repeatedly presented himself as an amplifier of Kremlin propaganda in Europe and Russia through appearances at symbolic locations of the conflict, interviews on Russian television, publications on his X account, and contributions to Kremlin-funded newspapers.
Through their activities, the designated individuals are responsible for supporting the actions and policies of the Russian government, which undermine democracy, the rule of law, stability and security in the European Union and Ukraine.
