Russian Narratives: The West as Sponsor of War and Chaos

A special miniseries from the podcast 4 Minutes reveals how the Russian Federation uses words as weapons. We focus on narratives – stories that reshape reality, divide society, and undermine trust in democratic institutions. Step by step, we explore how these narratives arise, why they work, and how to resist them. Each episode is about four minutes long and focuses on a specific story, claim, or method of manipulation. This series is for anyone seeking to understand not just propaganda, but how modern wars are fought – without bullets, using words. 

Transcript

Sometimes, there's no need to invent new stories – it’s enough to take reality, twist it, simplify it, and repeat it often enough. That’s exactly how one of the most widespread narratives in Russian propaganda works, especially since the war in Ukraine began: The West doesn’t want peace, it wants war. This story claims that the war in Ukraine would have ended long ago if it weren’t for the interference of the United States and its allies. The reason the conflict continues, according to this narrative, is not Ukraine’s defense, but the West’s desire to sell weapons and destabilize Russia.

This narrative spreads easily because it contains elements of truth – weapons are indeed being sold, war does bring enormous profits to some companies, and geopolitical interests are at play on both sides. But what makes it a propaganda tool is the deliberate omission of context and the manipulation of causes and consequences. In the version offered by Russian propaganda, Ukraine is portrayed as a mere pawn with no agency. Its will to fight, its courage to defend its country, and its decision to move toward democracy – all of this is ignored.

In this narrative, the United States does not want peace because war brings profit. The American arms industry is depicted as the main driver of the conflict, while diplomacy is shown as a facade hiding the true motives – control of markets, weakening of competitors, and expansion of influence. European countries are often portrayed as helpless vassals of Washington, blindly following the American lead, even to the detriment of their own citizens.

This image is reinforced by specific events – every new shipment of weapons to Ukraine, every statement of support from the White House, every NATO summit. Propaganda cherry-picks these moments to fit its message: that the West is not ending the war, but actively prolonging it. Ukraine’s calls for help are ignored, replaced by the image of a submissive colony obeying foreign orders.

Diplomacy is portrayed in this narrative as meaningless theater. Any negotiation that doesn’t end in immediate agreement with Russian demands is seen as insincere. Peace proposals based on international law and respect for Ukrainian sovereignty are depicted as dysfunctional or intentionally provocative. The goal is to create the impression that Russia wants peace – and that the West is the one preventing it.

It’s important to realize that this narrative isn’t only aimed at domestic audiences. It’s targeted at Western publics too, especially those dissatisfied with government policies, wary of the war’s consequences, or critical of military spending. Propaganda exploits these sentiments, reinforces them, and offers a simple explanation – all evil comes from one direction. Western support for Ukraine is not presented as an act of solidarity, but as an investment in endless war.

This story also serves to justify Russia’s actions. If the West is the true culprit, then of course Russia is just defending itself. It’s not an invasion, but protection. Not aggression, but necessity. And that’s the power of this narrative – it flips roles, obscures reality, and makes the attacker look like the victim.

Creating this image is enabled not only by state media, but also through social networks, alternative websites, and individuals who see themselves as independent truth-tellers. Sometimes it’s intentional, other times it’s simply the result of a disinformation environment where truth is difficult to distinguish.

The narrative that the West doesn’t want peace is especially dangerous because it feeds on fatigue, cynicism, and frustration. The longer the conflict continues, the easier it is to believe that no one wants to end it. And that’s exactly the gap propaganda fills – offering simple answers, assigning blame, and stripping the situation of complexity.

Thank you for listening to another episode of the Russian Narratives miniseries. Next Wednesday, we’ll explore another major theme of Russian propaganda – the conspiracy theory surrounding secret biological laboratories in Ukraine. We look forward to having you with us.