Zelenskyy cracks Trump code entering year five of war | Israel Hayom
Analysis Summary
This article tries to convince you that Ukraine is strong and smart in its war against Russia, even when things are tough. It mainly does this by quoting experts and officials, and by using emotionally charged words to make you feel hopeful about Ukraine's chances. However, it doesn't really delve into the harsh daily realities for Ukrainians or fully explain some of the 'painful compromises' it mentions.
Cross-Outlet PSYOP Detected
This article is part of a narrative being pushed across multiple outlets:
FATE Analysis
Four dimensions of psychological manipulation: how content captures Focus, exploits Authority, triggers Tribal identity, and engineers Emotion.
Focus signals
"The brief exchange – on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference a few days ago – revealed far more than just the president's mood."
This phrase frames a recent event as revealing something significant and previously unknown, drawing the reader's attention to new insights.
"Looking back across four years of war, Zelenskyy and his citizens can recognize something almost improbable: despite the carnage, the bombardment, and the bone-chilling cold, Russia failed to achieve either of its two stated objectives for the past year."
The word 'improbable' highlights an unexpected outcome against difficult circumstances, designed to capture fascination and attention regarding the resilience of Ukraine.
"Those achievements – modest-sounding as they are – look almost miraculous when measured against a specific turning point: the meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on the final day of February last year. The meeting imploded fast."
The term 'miraculous' and description of the meeting 'imploding fast' creates a framing of dramatic, significant events that demand attention due to their unique nature.
Authority signals
"According to American analyst Michael Kofman, one of the world's foremost experts on the conflict, Ukraine is actually closing out year four in better shape than it entered it."
Leverages the perceived authority of 'Michael Kofman, one of the world's foremost experts on the conflict,' to lend credibility to the claim about Ukraine's improving position.
"He wrote last week in an extensive piece for Foreign Affairs."
Cites 'Foreign Affairs' as the publication venue, an institution known for serious analysis and foreign policy, thereby bolstering the expert's credibility.
""At the most senior level, he is among the handful of figures in Ukraine capable of thinking several steps ahead," former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said of him recently."
Uses the authority of a 'former Foreign Minister' to endorse Kyrylo Budanov's capabilities, adding weight to the characterization.
"He is highly regarded at Langley and accepted across the competing factions of the Trump administration."
The mention of 'Langley' (CIA headquarters) and acceptance across 'competing factions of the Trump administration' invokes the authority of powerful institutions and political consensus to affirm Budanov's stature.
Tribe signals
"All of us in Ukraine are tired, but we have to do our work to save the country and protect our people and our rights. We're all in the same boat. We're tired, but we're strong."
Zelenskyy's quote establishes a clear 'us' (Ukrainians facing adversity) united by a common struggle, implicitly creating an 'us vs. them' dynamic against the aggressors.
"We would rather fight than sign an agreement on terms that won't serve our country."
This statement frames the choice in terms of national identity and sovereignty, implying that true 'Ukrainians' would choose to fight rather than accept unfavorable terms, making it a tribal marker.
"While Russia is counting on grinding Ukraine down, Kyiv is betting on making the conflict too expensive – in human lives and economic terms – for its neighbor-enemy to sustain."
Clearly delineates 'Russia' as the 'enemy' attempting to wear down 'Kyiv' (representing Ukraine), reinforcing an 'us vs. them' narrative of distinct and opposing factions.
Emotion signals
"And how are you feeling, psychologically? ... You look tired ... Then don't look at me," Zelenskyy laughed, before turning serious. "But thank you. All of us in Ukraine are tired, but we have to do our work to save the country and protect our people and our rights. We're all in the same boat. We're tired, but we're strong."
This initial exchange moves from a personal, almost lighthearted moment (laughter, dodging being called tired) to a serious, collective statement of fatigue and resolve, creating an emotional up-and-down that draws the reader in.
"Mindich and his associates pocketed $100 million – much of it from projects meant to protect energy infrastructure – while Russian missiles were targeting that same infrastructure on the eve of winter."
This contrast evokes a sense of outrage and injustice (corruption amidst wartime suffering), creating emotional urgency around the stakes of the conflict.
"The central figure was Timur Mindich, a friend and former business partner of Zelenskyy's, who had allegedly been extracting between 10% and 15% from every subcontractor's contract in exchange for "maintaining their status" and "preventing suspension of payments.""
Highlights corruption, especially within wartime efforts, sparking fear about internal threats and the potential undermining of the war effort from within.
"We would rather fight than sign an agreement on terms that won't serve our country. ... Ukraine will not lose."
These statements tap into a sense of moral rectitude and national pride, encouraging the reader to align with the 'just' and 'unyielding' stance of Ukraine against perceived injustice.
Narrative Analysis (PCP)
How the article reshapes thinking: Perception (what beliefs are targeted), Context (what information is shifted or omitted), and Permission (what behavior is being encouraged).
The article aims to instill the belief that Ukraine, despite challenges, is resilient and strategically adept in its war efforts, particularly by adapting to key political figures like Trump and reforming its internal leadership. It seeks to convey that Russia is suffering significant internal and external strains, making its position unsustainable.
The article shifts the context from a narrative of Ukraine struggling against a larger aggressor to one where Ukraine is actively outmaneuvering its enemy and making significant internal reforms. It presents Zelenskyy's interactions with Trump as a 'masterclass' in diplomacy, reframing a potentially humiliating encounter as an opportunity for learning and strategic development. The internal leadership changes are presented within the context of increasing strategic effectiveness and foresight for the war effort.
The article largely omits the significant human cost and daily struggles faced by the Ukrainian population during an ongoing war, focusing instead on political and military strategy. While it acknowledges some internal turbulence (anti-corruption agencies, Mindich scandal), it quickly pivots to how these events led to positive 'room to maneuver' or 'transformation' for Zelenskyy, without dwelling on the negative implications or potential trust erosion. It also doesn't elaborate on the specifics of the 'painful compromises' Ukraine is supposedly willing to make, leaving open a potentially ambiguous diplomatic stance.
The reader is nudged to maintain or increase support for Ukraine, to view Zelenskyy's leadership as effective and adaptable, and to feel optimistic about Ukraine's prospects in the war. It implicitly grants permission to believe that Ukraine is winning the strategic long game and that external support is being well utilized and strategically deployed.
SMRP Pattern
Four manipulation maintenance tactics: Socializing the idea as normal, Minimizing concerns, Rationalizing with logic, and Projecting blame.
Red Flags
High-severity indicators: silencing dissent, coordinated messaging, or weaponizing identity to shut down debate.
""At the most senior level, he is among the handful of figures in Ukraine capable of thinking several steps ahead," former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said of him recently. "Yermak was more of an opportunist." The appointment, Kuleba added, also shed light on Zelenskyy himself. "He has undergone an internal transformation. You cannot run a country by the same model for six years," said the former minister, who was himself dismissed in 2022 – apparently under Yermak's influence."
Techniques Found(9)
Specific propaganda techniques identified using the SemEval-2023 academic taxonomy of 23 techniques across 6 categories.
"All of us in Ukraine are tired, but we have to do our work to save the country and protect our people and our rights. We're all in the same boat."
Zelenskyy appeals to the shared values of duty, protection of the country, its people, and their rights to justify their continued struggle, and uses 'we're all in the same boat' to foster a sense of collective purpose and unity.
"Those achievements – modest-sounding as they are – look almost miraculous when measured against a specific turning point"
The word 'miraculous' exaggerates the significance of the achievements, portraying them as far more exceptional than they might otherwise appear, especially given they were initially described as 'modest-sounding'.
"The meeting imploded fast."
The word 'imploded' is emotionally charged and suggests a dramatic, sudden, and catastrophic failure of the meeting, rather than simply stating it ended poorly.
"In an extraordinary and humiliating scene captured on camera, the Ukrainian delegation was shown the door."
The words 'extraordinary' and especially 'humiliating' are emotionally charged, designed to evoke a strong negative reaction to the treatment of the Ukrainian delegation.
"Mindich and his associates pocketed $100 million – much of it from projects meant to protect energy infrastructure – while Russian missiles were targeting that same infrastructure on the eve of winter."
The phrase 'pocketed $100 million' used in conjunction with the information about the funds being taken from projects meant to protect energy infrastructure during a time of attack ('while Russian missiles were targeting that same infrastructure on the eve of winter') is highly loaded, aiming to outrage the reader about the corruption's timing and impact.
"Budanov carries unusual weight: though until recently he was personally involved in special operations, he has kept an open back-channel with Moscow on prisoner swaps throughout the war while simultaneously deepening his relationship with the CIA. He is highly regarded at Langley and accepted across the competing factions of the Trump administration."
The phrase 'unusual weight' along with listing his impressive clandestine activities and high regard across diverse and usually competing groups, exaggerates his influence and importance.
"Mindich fled to Israel when the scandal broke."
The word 'fled' carries a negative connotation, implying guilt and evasion of responsibility rather than simply stating he left.
"The end of the all-powerful aide"
The phrase 'all-powerful aide' exaggerates the influence of Andriy Yermak, building a narrative of his near-absolute control to emphasize the significance of his ousting.
"Ukraine, meanwhile, is steadily widening the reach of its strikes deep into Russian territory – drones are hitting targets 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) away – and has already partly neutralized Moscow's strategic depth."
The claim that Ukraine 'has already partly neutralized Moscow's strategic depth' is an overstatement of the impact of long-range drone strikes, presenting a more significant strategic achievement than the described actions might warrant.