Invoking Churchill: Zelenskyy’s use of myth diplomacy in the United Kingdom

This article introduces the concept of myth diplomacy: the mobilisation of audience-held political myths in diplomatic communication to shape interpretation, ascribe significance, and prompt action. It shows how myth, as a mechanism of influence in public diplomacy, differs from memory diplomacy, analogy, and strategic narrative, and examines its use in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s speeches to UK audiences following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Through discourse analysis of Zelenskyy’s speeches, an elite interview with a senior member of his speechwriting team, and analysis of UK media coverage, the article shows how Churchill and Second World War myths were repeatedly used to frame Ukraine’s struggle, shape British understandings of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and reinforce calls for support. In doing so, it clarifies the role of myth in diplomatic communication and offers a framework for identifying myth diplomacy in practice.