Western Puppet and Peacemaker Trump: What Narratives About the War in Ukraine Dominate in Asia, Africa, and South America — MIHR Analytics

Distorted narratives about Russia’s war against Ukraine are actively promoted in the media spaces of non-Western countries. This is detailed in a new analytical report by the Media Initiative for Human Rights (MIHR), prepared in cooperation with the company LOOQME.

The study shows that the key messages in the information landscape of these countries are not just pro-Russian propaganda but deeply rooted anti-Western narratives that often diminish Ukraine’s agency.

The most widespread among the 22 identified narratives is that of Donald Trump as a peacemaker. This message is actively promoted in both traditional media and social networks, particularly in Brazil, Argentina, Turkey, and Indonesia. In these mentions, the former U.S. president is portrayed as the only political figure capable of ending the war by exerting pressure on both sides — including Ukraine.

Social media is the main battlefield for these narratives. In all three regions, it has become the primary channel for spreading disinformation.

Africa was found to be the most vulnerable to disinformation, with 29% of mentions about Ukraine containing overtly pro-Russian messages. For example, the narrative about NATO’s “aggressive policy” was disseminated via social media in 94% of African mentions. In the vast majority of cases (83%), these mentions appeared in comments or were shared by accounts with fewer than 5,000 followers — a sign of potentially artificial or coordinated activity.

Despite the challenging information environment, analysts recorded an interest among audiences in Ukraine’s peace initiatives, civilian heroism, and humanitarian topics. In Indonesia and South Korea, there is significant circulation of content highlighting Ukraine’s diplomatic efforts and official statements from Ukrainian leaders. In Brazil and Argentina, there is notable interest in humanitarian issues such as the return of Ukrainian children deported by Russia, as well as prisoners of war and civilian hostages.

MIHR calls on Ukraine to tailor its external communications to the specifics of each region, strengthen its presence on social media, and focus on topics that evoke empathy and trust. Special attention should be paid to countering pro-Russian narratives in Africa and South Asia.

The full analytical report is available at the following link.