Fact Check: NATO started the war with Russia

Fact Check: NATO started the war with Russia

Published March 11, 2025Updated June 17, 2025
±
VERDICT
Partially True

# Fact Check: "NATO started the war with Russia" ## What We Know The claim that "NATO started the war with Russia" is rooted in a complex historical ...

Fact Check: "NATO started the war with Russia"

What We Know

The claim that "NATO started the war with Russia" is rooted in a complex historical context involving NATO's eastward expansion and Russia's geopolitical ambitions. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly cited NATO's expansion as a primary grievance, arguing that it represents a betrayal of promises made to Russia in the 1990s. According to Jeffrey Mankoff, Russia's invasion of Ukraine was justified by Putin through a series of grievances, including NATO's role in shaping post-Cold War security in Europe. Mankoff notes that while NATO's expansion was a significant concern for Russia, the invasion was also driven by deeper issues regarding Ukrainian identity and statehood.

Further, Becky Sullivan highlights that NATO's founding principles allow any European country capable of meeting its criteria to join, which includes Ukraine. Putin's assertion that NATO's eastward movement was a broken promise has been contested by Western leaders, who maintain that no formal agreement existed to prevent NATO's expansion. This perspective is supported by historical analyses indicating that discussions around NATO's expansion were complex and often misrepresented by both sides.

Analysis

The claim that NATO started the war oversimplifies the multifaceted nature of the conflict. While NATO's expansion is indeed a point of contention for Russia, it is not the sole cause of the war. Mankoff emphasizes that the invasion reflects a broader Russian ambition to assert control over Ukraine, which goes beyond NATO membership concerns. This viewpoint is echoed in the historical context provided by Sullivan, who explains that while there were discussions about NATO's future during the Cold War, no binding commitments were made that would prevent its enlargement.

The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is generally high. Mankoff is a distinguished research fellow at the Center for Strategic Research at the National Defense University, lending credibility to his insights on the geopolitical implications of NATO's actions. Sullivan's reporting for NPR is also well-regarded, providing a balanced view of the historical context surrounding NATO's expansion and Russia's response.

However, it is important to recognize the potential biases in these narratives. Russian state media and officials often frame NATO as an aggressor, which can skew public perception and international discourse. Conversely, Western narratives may downplay legitimate Russian security concerns regarding NATO's expansion.

Conclusion

The claim that "NATO started the war with Russia" is Partially True. While NATO's eastward expansion has contributed to tensions between Russia and the West, it is not accurate to say that NATO alone instigated the conflict. The war is the result of a combination of factors, including historical grievances, national identity issues, and Russia's broader geopolitical ambitions. Thus, while NATO's actions are a significant element in the narrative, they do not singularly account for the outbreak of hostilities.

Sources

  1. Russia's War in Ukraine: Identity, History, and Conflict
  2. How NATO's expansion helped drive Putin to invade Ukraine
  3. Russo-Ukrainian War
  4. NATO, explained — the alliance and why it's crucial now
  5. NATO's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine
  6. NATO - Homepage
  7. Was ist die NATO?
  8. Ukraine: Conflict at the Crossroads of Europe and Russia

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Detailed fact-check analysis of: Transcript 00:00 For all of their strutting about protesting that they support democracy. Not a one of them gave a damn about democracy when they pulled Biden off the ballot and dropped Kamala Harris in without a single Democrat primary voter voting for him. And you know what? Not a single Democrat is here today because not a single one of them gives a damn about the fact that they lied to the American people for four years. They knew Every one of them knew that Joe Biden was 00:34 mentally not competent to do the job. The White House Press Secretary. She knew when she stood in front of the American people and lied over and over and over again and they're not here because they can't defend themselves. It wasn't a surprise for four years the White House hid President Biden from Republican Senators. Would not let him meet with us. He served 40 years in this body. We all know him. 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Uh so in that opinion in 2005 from OLC they said essentially that an autopin could be used by a subordinate but the president's determination as to sign the document can never be delegated. Can that authority 02:41 be transferred to a staff or a machine without the president's explicit authorization? Never. And if you look at the statistics, the statistics are stunning. In 2021, President Biden issued 78 executive orders. None were signed with an auto pen. That first year the presidency, Biden I suppose was relatively lucid and 78 executive orders he signed by hand. The second year, however, we see the auto pen emerged. 03:15 The first auto pen executive order was issued on 15th 2022. After that day 100% of the executive orders issued in 2022 were signed by an autopen. In 2023 Biden issued twenty-four executive orders. 16 were auto penned. In 20twenty-four Biden issued 19. 14 were auto penned. 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