Russian threat perception is a lie.
Are we really to believe that since the Kremlin says Russia is threatened by the West that Moscow perceives this as true? Moscow makes false claims about many things of great importance – why accept anything from the Kremlin at face value?
How is it that with a large spy network and access to all kinds of intelligence, hacking of huge amounts of highly confidential and sensitive data, Russia can claim to feel “threatened” and “vulnerable” to attack from the West when there is nothing to base this on?
Are we really to believe that Russia perceives Western RESPONSES to its own actions as offensive first moves? Or that despite massive amounts of aid, Reset (AFTER Russia waged war on Georgia), political allies and pocket politicians galore, that those same Westerners are trying to subvert Russia?
Are we really to believe that Russia perceived Maidan as a western coup aimed at undermining the Kremlin? Moscow knows how and why Maidan started. Many believe it was deliberately escalated (from a small and peaceful protest to a bloody revolution) under the Kremlin’s guiding hand.
Are we really to believe that Russia does not know that the US is not planning an attack on the country? That Moscow genuinely feels threatened by NATO – a defensive alliance which has increased its manpower closer to Russia ONLY in RESPONSE to Moscow’s aggression of late?
Are we really to believe that since the Kremlin says Russia is threatened by the West that Moscow perceives this as true? Moscow says Russia hasn’t invaded Ukraine and we know this is an outright lie. Why trust Moscow is not lying about everything else including threat perception too?
This faith in the genuine nature of the Kremlin’s “belief” that it is under threat from attack is perplexing. It’s one thing to consider what that position looks like, but another to endorse it wholesale as reality and truth.
Russia’s claims of feeling threatened by the West serves as nothing other than justification and excuse of Moscow’s gross violations of international norms and laws. It’s meant to hide Russia’s premeditated acts of violence, aggression, and genocide.
Russian threat perception is a lie.