The War in Ukraine on the Pages of Polish Weekly Opinion-Forming Magazines

Abstract The conflict and relations between Poland and Ukraine are an important aspect of the geopolitical reality of Central and Eastern Europe. In the context of changing political, economic and social dynamics, the media play a key role in shaping public opinion and reporting on events between these two countries. In the article, we will analyse the role of the media in the context of the political and economic relations between Poland and Ukraine, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We will focus on how the Polish media present the conflict, and its impact on cooperation and interactions between the two countries. The article will also present the potential impact the media representation of the conflict may have on international relations, including diplomacy, economic cooperation and regional integration. By analysing this issue, we will try to determine the role of the media as a factor influencing the perception and understanding of the relationship between Poland and Ukraine and the need for a critical approach to media narratives in the context of building common understanding and cooperation between the two countries. The content analysis will cover selected issues of weekly magazines representing various sides of the political scene: Polityka , Newsweek and Sieci .