Ukraine in the Context of the US Presidential Election and Trump’s Victory in 2024: Monitoring US, UK and German Media Coverage of the Full-Scale Russian War Against Ukraine
Researchers from the Lviv Media Forum conducted a monitoring study to analyze how foreign media covered the possible end of the war in Ukraine in the context of Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential elections.
We analyzed key messages and narratives regarding Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, published in media from three countries from September 10, 2024 (the start of the U.S. election campaign) to January 20, 2025 (the inauguration day of the new U.S. president). In addition to messages about Ukraine, researchers also focused on how Trump and his policies were characterized in the media.
Based on monitoring of US, UK and German media sources in 2024-2025, President Donald Trump is portrayed as unpredictable and inconsistent. The sources highlight his ties to Putin and his plan to force Ukraine into peace negotiations on terms favorable to Russia. He is likely to curtail or even halt arms supplies to Ukraine. At the same time, Trump’s team offers a glimmer of hope that Ukraine will not be abandoned. The media also notes a gap between Trump’s election campaign rhetoric in 2024 and the foreign policy nominations leading up to Inauguration Day.