MFA demands that the Financial Times investigate into the article featuring "signs of disinformation favorable to Russia"

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs demands the Financial Times conduct an editorial investigation into the articles that have "signs of disinformation favorable to Russia." Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Oleh Nikolenko announced this on Facebook.

The demand follows the publication's February 6 artilce "Moldova's PM calls for more EU help to curb Ukraine war smuggling."

Nikolenko said that the quotes by the former Prime Minister of Moldova do not correspond to the headline of the Financial Times article and that the article contains disinformation.

According to the spokesman, the article opens with a note on Gavrilita telling the Financial Times that her country is "seeing an increase" in the smuggling of arms, people and goods from Ukraine amidst the war. The author reminds that Moldova is not a member of the EU, but borders Romania, which has been a EU member since 2007.

"Right away, the author (Henry Foy. – Ed.) outlines the scale of the problem: 'Illegal smuggling of arms, people and goods from Ukraine has been a major fear for EU countries since Russia's invasion last February, exacerbated by the vast amount of weapons supplied to the country over the last 11 months and the increased levels of people seeking to leave.' According to the article, Brussels responded by creating a 'support hub' in Moldova in an attempt track and curb trafficking attempts. That initiative, Gavrilita said, had achieved 'successful efforts to stop trafficking of arms and people,'" wrote Nikolenko.

He also added a direct quote from the former head of the Moldovan government, which is cited in the article: "We do not want to become a country where security threats grow, or there is increased ... trafficking or illegal smuggling."

"Natalia Gavrilita also says that Moldova needs EU support 'so we don't allow these trafficking networks to grow.' This is a completely legitimate wish coming from a representative of a country that has a war next door. But does the former Prime Minister of Moldova mention the facts of arms trafficking or an increase in it? No," said the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Oleh Nikolenko believes that the purpose of the article is to discredit the international military aid to Ukraine.

"The author of the article does not provide any evidence of arms smuggling, either. Moreover, we did not receive any confirmed reports or concrete facts from Moldova about smuggled arms arriving there from Ukraine. This article by the Financial Times is yet another instance of disinformation. Its purpose is to discredit the international military aid to Ukraine. Russia is investing considerable resources in preventing Western weapons from being supplied to our country now, amid Russian army's new offensive. It is clear that the Financial Times article was intended for fearmongering in the West, implying that the weapons supplied to Ukraine would be used against the Western countries themselves once they get into the hands of criminals," Nikolenko wrote.

He added that this same author (Henry Foy. – Ed.) already published a similar article last year, "wherein he also manipulated the topic of alleged arms smuggling in Ukraine."

Screenshots by Oleh Nikolenko