NATO Tightens Information Sharing on Ukraine Support to Counter Russian Manipulation

BRUSSELS — NATO is reducing its public disclosures regarding its operations and assistance to Ukraine due to fears that Russia may leverage this information, officials from three NATO nations revealed to The Moscow Times, requesting anonymity.

As the NATO summit approaches in The Hague this month, where a consensus to increase defense spending goals to 5% of GDP is anticipated, the alliance is concerned that Russia is utilizing its transparency initiatives as tools for propaganda and military strategizing.

All three NATO insiders confirmed that the alliance will cease revealing specifics about arms deliveries to Ukraine and may additionally limit the dissemination of information concerning defense strategies and deterrence measures to thwart Russia’s ability to anticipate its movements.

“Every discussion or press conference ultimately appears in Russian Telegram feeds almost instantly. It feels like they are monitoring it even more closely than our own press,” remarked an official from a prominent NATO member.

This source highlighted the prolonged deliberations among NATO defense and foreign ministers regarding enhanced defense budgets and support for Ukraine, which have drawn intensified scrutiny from Russian state television.

The Russian state media exhibited a keen interest in NATO’s discussions with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, which preceded the announcement of an additional 20 billion euros in military assistance to Kyiv.

“News agencies like TASS and RIA Novosti were saturated with details from these talks,” the source further noted.

Another NATO informant indicated that Russian television networks were analyzing remarks made by the alliance’s ministers during their main news segments, often presenting them in a light that benefitted Moscow.

The Kremlin is intentionally exploiting even minor incidents to create scandals and points of contention, a tactic evident in recent disinformation campaigns against those opposing Moscow.

French President Emmanuel Macron became a focal point of such maneuvers, initially through derogatory rumors about his wife Brigitte, and later with a viral video purportedly depicting her slapping him as they exited a plane.

In a notable case, Russian state television, pro-Kremlin websites, and Telegram channels circulated a misleading report claiming that a bag of cocaine was visible on the table in front of Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during their train journey to Kyiv.

In truth, it was merely a napkin.

In reaction, NATO member states have begun to limit the amount of information they release to the public, specifically about their military support for Ukraine.

Germany has already shifted its stance, opting not to disclose information regarding the provision of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine in May, and subsequently classifying all data related to military aid.

“Initially, we shared everything. But then we questioned the reasoning behind it. We even enumerated the number of missiles and ammunition. Ultimately, we realized it was more beneficial to Putin than to the German public,” a German diplomat conveyed to The Moscow Times.