The Map Russia Doesn't Want You to See—It Proves Everything They Said Was a Lie

Russia's Embassy in the Netherlands posted a map this week claiming NATO expansion toward its borders represents "one of the biggest lies of modern diplomacy." The post, which has drawn thousands of critical responses, invoked the disputed "not an inch to the East" narrative that Moscow has used to frame its security concerns since invading Ukraine.

The irony was not lost on social media users, who flooded the replies with maps of their own.

The Map Russia Wants You to See

The Russian Embassy's video shows NATO's incremental expansion from its Cold War borders to the present day, depicting waves of countries joining the alliance closer to Russian territory. The caption warns viewers not to let "warmongers fool you," insisting that "Moscow never sought escalation with Europe."

According to the National Security Archive, the "not an inch eastward" phrase stems from 1990 discussions about German reunification. US Secretary of State James Baker did suggest limiting NATO's reach beyond reunified Germany in conversations with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

But no formal agreement was ever signed. Gorbachev himself later called the betrayal narrative "definitely a myth" in a 2014 interview. The discussions concerned Germany, not broader Eastern European expansion. Russia's claim conflates verbal assurances about one country with a binding prohibition on others joining.

"Interviewer: 'it is a myth that you were betrayed by the West regarding NATO's eastward expansion?' Gorbachev: 'Yes, it is definitely a myth.'" - Stephan Jensen, @StephanAJensen

The Map Russia Doesn't Want You to See

The replies to the Russian Embassy's post told a different story. Users posted maps showing Russian invasions, occupations, and territorial annexations spanning centuries.

"You have no right to dictate other countries' security doctrines. After centuries of invasions, you wonder why your neighbors want to join NATO. Truly a mystery!" - Johanna Nyman, @JohannaNyman5

One widely shared response showed the Budapest Memorandum, the 1994 agreement in which Russia promised to respect Ukraine's sovereignty in exchange for nuclear disarmament. Moscow violated that treaty when it annexed Crimea in 2014 and invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Another popular reply mapped every Russian invasion since the 19th century. The image showed Russian forces entering Poland, Finland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Georgia, and Ukraine.

"It's an absolute mystery why so many want to join a military defensive alliance. Mystery, I tell you!" - Bianka, @BiankaB12

Why Countries Actually Join NATO

The Atlantic Council notes that Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999, followed by the three Baltic states in 2004. According to the Wilson Center, Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian leaders warned of the existential threat Russia posed to them based on their 70-year Soviet occupation.

The reason was simple: countries that spent decades under Moscow's control concluded their newly regained freedom would be at risk without NATO membership. Leaders like Lech Wałęsa and Václav Havel conveyed this message to US President Bill Clinton in the early 1990s, arguing the West had a narrow window to act.

A 2006 study in Security Studies found that NATO enlargements in 1999 and 2004 contributed to democratic consolidation in Central and Eastern Europe. The Baltic states made rapid investments in their own armed forces, demonstrating their commitment to collective defense.

This comes as Iceland's parliament recently approved a referendum on EU membership, with leaders citing Trump's Arctic threats as motivation. The pattern repeats: authoritarian neighbors drive democratic countries toward integration with the West. Europeans increasingly view deeper union as the only way to preserve freedom and the rule of law.

The VPN Hypocrisy

The same day as the Russian Embassy's map post, a Finnish analyst highlighted a different kind of Russian propaganda problem. Pekka Kallioniemi, who tracks Kremlin disinformation, noted that Russian propagandists claiming Europe "doesn't have freedom of speech" must use VPNs to access banned platforms.

All major social media platforms are blocked in Russia. X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube require circumvention tools for Russian users. The Internet has been down for millions of Russians for months in some areas, according to users in the replies.

The irony is stark: Russian state media criticizes European free speech while operating from a country where accessing foreign news requires breaking the law. European journalists can freely report on their governments without needing VPNs. Russian journalists cannot.

"The Internet is down for millions of Russians, has been for months in some areas." - Gerard McSwiney, @Gmcswineyyy

What NATO's Map Actually Shows

One thoughtful reply deconstructed the Russian narrative entirely. An analyst writing under the handle @InsiderGeo pointed out that if NATO countries wanted to attack Russia, why did most European armies shrink in size since the 1990s? Why did Germany and other countries remain dependent on Russian gas for years?

"If there really was a threat, or if someone wanted to attack Russia, why did most European armies shrink in size since the 1990s? Were they preparing to attack you while cutting their own military forces?" - GeoInsider, @InsiderGeo

Russia's own behavior answers that question. When Putin said in 2001 that Russia cannot "forbid people to make certain choices if they want to increase the security of their nations," he acknowledged sovereign countries' right to choose their alliances. He has since violated that principle repeatedly.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine prompted Finland and Sweden to abandon decades of neutrality and join NATO. Moscow's aggression created the very expansion it claimed to fear. The map now shows two new NATO members, with Finland sharing an 830-mile border with Russia.

The Federation Response

European leaders responding to recent threats from Washington have emphasized that only collective action can deter authoritarian powers. The same logic applies to Russia.

Countries don't flee toward authoritarianism. They flee from it. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and now Finland and Sweden chose Western integration because the alternative was remaining vulnerable to Moscow's imperial ambitions.

Russia's map shows NATO expansion. Europe's map shows democratic choice.