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When analyzing propaganda, what is omitted can often be more telling than what is stated explicitly. To illustrate this point, consider the website of the Russian state media agency TASS, which makes no mention of the speech delivered by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the Summit for Peace in Ukraine, where she expressed very strong support for Ukraine. This omission is not unexpected, as, on the other side of the trench, the same discourse was highly publicized. Indeed, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s strong support for Ukraine was so notable that it earned special recognition from US President Joe Biden.
This illustrative situation can be used to delineate one of the most crucial fronts in the Ukraine war: the information and soft power war waged through strategic propaganda. Russia has been using this tactic as a both direct and indirect instrument of warfare for a long time. From influencing election outcomes to shaping military strategies, Russian propaganda has permeated and reinforced every external effort to expand its sphere of influence. Recently, the West seems to have learned how to fight back.
In this regard, it can be argued that Meloni’s discourse expressing the West’s unwavering support may be a response to a powerful propaganda tool, the narrative of “Ukraine fatigue”, while at the same time contributing to create a cohesive front against the Russian sphere.
This discourse, coupled with the extensive coverage it received, may indicate that the West appears to have initiated a shift in its response to the conflict, with public discourse now prioritizing unified support for Ukraine among world leaders. This contrasts with the previous focus on the individual actions of these leaders, as exemplified by France’s Macron’s widely discussed remarks about sending troops to Ukraine, which resulted in significant divisions within the West. While this shift may seem inconsequential when considered in isolation, it may actually be an important indicator of evolving strategies. It is likely that the other side is aware of this, as evidenced by the absence of any mention of these statements in the Russian media.
In addition, and in the aftermath of these events, a particularly inflammatory article emerged in the context of the ongoing conflict, and it regarded one of the most highly-heald fields: the United States presidential election.
In this regard, given Europe’s historical alignment with the United States on matters of geopolitical significance, the fact that Donald Trump had repeatedly expressed vocal opposition to providing military aid to Ukraine prompted considerable concern. This concern was such that the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, felt compelled to respond to the affirmations. One might argue that this response, which was vocal and characterized by a certain degree of animosity, was necessary in the context of the propaganda war. Indeed, Trump’s statements were widely disseminated in Russian media outlets and had a notable impact on European allies, with some experts hypothesizing that it may potentially influence some countris’ stance on the matter.
However, just last week Foreign Affairs published a manifesto of a prospective Republican administration, outlined by Trump’s former assistant for National Security Affairs Robert O’Brien, which suggests foreign policy directions.
In essence, the program entails the removal of the element of cooperation from the competition with China, the restoration of maximum pressure on Iran and nuclear and conventional rearmament. Notably, the program also includes an unexpected element: the increase of supplies to Ukraine with the objective of bringing negotiations with Russia closer.
It would be inaccurate to describe these as Trump’s promises or strict political programs, at least not yet, but the publication of these ideas by a Trump advisor prompts a number of considerations.
This shift in position probably serves several purposes: politically, it aligns Trump with more traditional Republican stances, which may prove advantageous for him in the long presidential run, given the decline in support for his party, and it could be beneficial in persuading those members of the American electorate who are still undecided and whose concerns about security and international American policies are likely to be particularly acute in the context of the Joe Bidan’s recent controversial foreign policies in the Gaza conflict.
Moreover, regardless of whether such declarations are ultimately realized, it can be argued that they also serve as a useful tool in the propaganda field. Indeed, Trump’s foreign policy is based on the concept of “Peace through strength—or, failing that, peace through threat.” This relies heavily on the use of soft power, or propaganda, to achieve its desired effect. By publicly declaring that Ukraine may once again become a priority in the United States’ foreign policy agenda, Trump may be signaling to other countries, both friendly and not, that the United States will not be indifferent to the issue. This may, in turn, suggest that the West as a whole will not be indifferent to the matter either.
To suggest the power of these statements, one can note that again there is no trace of these new positions in the Russian media, despite their previous tendency to report every Trump statement against Ukraine.
In conclusion, the propaganda war in Ukraine serves as a reminder of the importance of a unified Western response. By strategically countering narratives such as “Ukraine fatigue” and proactively shaping public opinion, the West can maintain its resolve and undermine efforts to divide international support. It is likely that the success of these counter-propaganda efforts will depend on a continued commitment to transparency and a united front. Ukraine has already demonstrated such a commitment through initiatives such as UNITED24Media, and it is hoped that the West will learn to develop similar measures in due course.
[Photo by Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street, via Wikimedia Commons]
Martina Sapio is a developing lawyer with a strong foundation in international law and a passion for geopolitics. Currently, she is a trainee lawyer at Clifford Chance. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.
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