Summary
A recent report by our team at CPD SNSPA maps out the digital presence of the United States, Russia, and Ukraine in Romania’s online sphere, in the last month. The findings reflect the complexity of public discourse around global power dynamics, security concerns, and war-related narratives.
While the USA leads in reach, and Russia retains its strategic weight, Ukraine’s narrative benefits from favorable sentiment, especially in moments tied to peace-building initiatives. The total digital reach across all three countries exceeds 1.1 billion, showing the continued relevance of these actors in Romanian online conversations.
As this trend report shows, visibility alone doesn’t define influence. The tone, context, and associations behind mentions matter just as much — offering a deeper understanding of how digital narratives shape public perception.
While the USA was mentioned in a balanced manner, in both negative and positive contexts, Russia and Ukraine — as parties to the ongoing war — were present mostly in tense, polarizing contexts, although (as seen below) there are important nuances that differentiate the two actors.
USA: Highest Visibility, tied to negotiations for peace in Ukraine
The USA leads in both number of mentions and projected digital impact. However, much of this visibility is linked to tense geopolitical contexts, especially in connection with Russia, Donald Trump, and Vladimir Putin. These associations suggest that conversations around the US are shaped by ongoing debates about global leadership, war diplomacy and alliances with a balanced tone.
Ukraine: Lowest volume of mentions, but framed positively
Ukraine has the lowest digital reach among the three, but stands out through positive framing, particularly in the context of peace negotiations. Mentions emphasize Ukraine’s resistance against Russian aggression and the support it receives from multiple international actors, underlining its perceived legitimacy in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
Russia: Consistently present, often framed as adversary
Russia ranks second in both mentions and impact, remaining a central actor in regional discourse. The semantic associations – particularly with Putin and Ukraine – highlight Russia’s persistent presence in narratives surrounding the war and global security.
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