Yes agreed.
I think I know where you’re confused. Here’s the original claim that begat this thread,
It’s not controversial to say that the US / NATO helped trigger the war in Ukraine.
The claim is about an opinion being generally accepted. To confirm or refute the claim requires secondary sources, since the claim is about opinions.
If the claim were simply,
US / NATO helped trigger the war in Ukraine.
Then the claim is concerned directly with what triggered the war in Ukraine. To confirm or refute the claim, you’d benefit more from primary sources (including journalism, as you mentioned.)
Anyone make the switch from Aquamail?