What Global South media write about Ukraine
The Center monitors the information space of the Global South and identifies narratives favorable to Russia. In recent days, the key topics related to Ukraine have been the following:
– The overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria;
– Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron;
– Prospects for a diplomatic settlement of the war in Ukraine.
The meeting in Paris resonated strongly in countries of the Global South, primarily due to hopes for negotiations and peace. Many in these countries view the talks as a potential starting point for a peace process.
In the media of most Global South countries, there has been a noticeable increase in the promotion of narratives aligned with Russian propaganda. This may indicate attempts by the Russian Federation to shape public opinion in these regions ahead of possible negotiations.
One of the most discussed topics globally has been the fall of Assad’s regime in Syria. Ukraine is frequently mentioned in this context in Middle Eastern media, while it is rarely referenced in China. Reports highlight that Assad’s overthrow was made possible by the war in Ukraine, which diminished Russia’s capacity to defend its Syrian ally.
In China, there has been an increase in the promotion of narratives criticizing the alleged disadvantages for EU countries of “focusing on the United States,” accompanied by calls for deeper economic cooperation with China.
The main narratives favorable to Russia:
– Kyiv is involved in the situation in Syria;
– Ukraine, unlike Russia, does not want peace and negotiations;
– the US and NATO are not interested in establishing peace in Ukraine and are turning the conflict into a prolonged proxy war against Russia.
