On 18 March 2014, two days after a referendum based on the right of self-determination, Crimea joined the Russian Federation. This major event explains five years of Western sanctions against Moscow. As early as 2016, the United States began accusing Russia of spreading false news, supposedly to interfere with democratic processes. NATO is urging its European members to prepare for a war with Russia. The Skripal affair, which broke out in March 2018, justified new anti-Russian measures. A year later, London has still not presented any concrete evidence. The economic sanctions designed to bend Russia proved immediately to be ineffective . As a boomerang effect, European farmers are seriously affected by the loss of the Russian market. Recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative on Crimea being a part of Russia and that the sanctions following the annexation are unfair and ineffective According to international law, Crimea is part of Ukraine. Russia violated international law as well as the key principles of the European security framework by illegally annexing the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol.