Russian media broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric are disseminating information that Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna allegedly called the Ukrainians “a cheap way to fight Russia”. He allegedly said this during a meeting organized by the Atlantic Council. This is manipulation.

The case was examined by StopFake specialists. The head of the Estonian Foreign Ministry did not make such statements. At a meeting organized by the Atlantic Council, he said: “Instead of military conflicts or aggression between Russia and NATO members, Ukraine is fighting in our region. And this is the most effective and cheapest way, if I may put it so roughly, to get rid of the desire for aggression on the Russian side”. Russian propaganda distorted this phrase to create manipulation.

In fact, the Minister said that Ukrainians are fighting for European values.

Thus, Russian propagandists are trying to discredit Western partners and show that they allegedly devalue the deaths of Ukrainians in the Russian-Ukrainian war. It is also a continuation of the narrative that the West started the war, and Russia “was forced to defend itself”. Previously, we refuted the fake that Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Ukraine should participate in the formation of the US state budget.