Russian propaganda regains strength in western Europe
This week Vladimir Putin launched his new offensive on eastern Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky declared it to be the “decisive” battle for his country. But if Donbas is the new frontline of the physical war, western Europe is where the decisive battle of the information war is currently being fought.
It was only two months ago that the internet went to town sharing memes about the size of Zelensky’s balls and marveling over the stoicism of Ukrainians. Since then the combination of Russian info war tactics, the natural limits of our attention spans and dubious policies of Silicon Valley tech giants that take advantage of these limits have all changed the global mood music about the Ukraine war.
Nowhere is this change more apparent and more consequential than in Europe.
Ahead of the French elections run off this weekend, Marine Le Pen, the far right candidate and a long time admirer of Vladimir Putin, closed the gap with Emmanuel Macron in polls and pledged to engage with Russia if she wins. This, she argued, would prevent Moscow forming a closer alliance with Beijing.