Lenta.ru · March 2026

• Quotes Orban's statements as authoritative without distancing verbs
• Foregrounds Orban's criticisms of EU and Ukraine as justified
• Uses Orban's own framing ('new era', 'complete ruin', 'death of democracy') without challenge
• Portrays Orban as a victim of external threats (Ukraine, EU)

The entity is HU (Hungary), but coverage is overwhelmingly focused on Viktor Orban as the country's leader. The outlet treats Orban as a credible spokesperson whose statements are reported without skepticism, and his conflicts with Ukraine/EU are framed from his perspective. Headlines about Zelenskyy's anger or wishes for Orban's defeat (9, 13, 14) are presented as news about Orban's opponents, not as criticism of Orban himself.

• Iran is portrayed as a capable actor delivering strikes and responses
• US and Israeli actions are framed as provocations or threats
• Iran's statements and actions are reported without distancing language
• Negative claims about Iran (e.g., from Azerbaijan, Israel) are attributed to accusers, not endorsed

The outlet reports Iran's own accusations and military actions as straightforward facts, while attributing accusations against Iran to third parties (Azerbaijan, Israel). This asymmetry suggests a favourable stance toward Iran. However, some headlines (e.g., 5, 22) report negative events (Israeli strike, death of Khamenei) neutrally, and the bundle includes a mix of sources, so confidence is medium.

• frames NATO as aggressive or threatening
• highlights NATO's vulnerabilities and failures
• uses distancing or negative framing (e.g., 'оказалась наступательным альянсом')
• associates NATO with attacks on Russia

Headline 23 explicitly calls NATO an 'offensive alliance' (наступательным альянсом), which is a strong negative framing. Headlines 5 and 9 highlight NATO's military defeats and losses. However, some headlines are neutral or factual (e.g., 1, 10, 19), and the outlet also quotes NATO officials without overt hostility, so the stance is not uniformly hostile but consistently skeptical.

• Russian officials quoted as authoritative voices
• Positive framing of Russian actions and achievements
• Minimal critical or distancing language toward Russian entities
• Focus on Russian strength and diplomatic initiatives

Headlines are overwhelmingly factual or positive toward Russian state actors; no critical or delegitimising language is present. The outlet treats Russian officials as credible sources and amplifies their statements without skepticism.

• portrays Zelensky as fearful or weak (e.g., 'испугался', 'прячущемся')
• frames Ukrainian actions as threats or failures (e.g., 'удар ВСУ', 'этнические чистки')
• uses distancing or critical framing of Zelensky's statements (e.g., 'заявил', 'высказался')
• highlights negative outcomes or setbacks for Ukraine (e.g., 'Трамп не принял подарок', 'разбил надежды')

The outlet is Russian state-funded (Lenta.ru), so its editorial stance is aligned with Russian government interests. The entity is Ukraine (UA), but most headlines focus on Zelensky as its representative. The coverage consistently emphasizes Ukrainian weakness, internal problems, and Western disappointment, while using verbs that imply distance or criticism. However, some headlines are neutral factual reports, and the stance is not uniformly hostile (-2) because there is no outright delegitimizing language like 'regime' or 'Nazi' in this bundle.

• uses distancing verbs like 'заявил' (claimed) and 'сделал странное заявление' (made a strange statement)
• frames Trump's actions as erratic or questionable (e.g., 'странное заявление', 'оскорбил')
• includes negative framing of US military (e.g., 'сбил американские истребители', 'сбитие трех американских истребителей по ошибке')
• occasionally reports US actions neutrally (e.g., 'Сенат США не стал ограничивать')

The entity is 'US' but most headlines focus on Trump as a proxy; coverage is mixed with some neutral items (e.g., 18, 19) but overall tone toward US/Trump is skeptical, not hostile. Headline 13 ('Трампа изобразили в роли собаки Путина') is particularly negative but is a report of a US cartoon, not Lenta's own framing.

• uses distancing verbs like 'попросил', 'решил', 'анонсировал' without endorsement
• highlights failures or setbacks (hopes dashed, Trump comparisons to circus founder)
• includes critical third-party voices (Congress calling for deal, Dmitriev evaluating words)
• occasional neutral reporting of actions (law signing, statements)

Several headlines are neutral factual reports (1, 7, 15), but the bundle includes multiple items that frame Zelensky as failing, being outmaneuvered, or acting ineffectively (12, 19, 24). The outlet does not use overtly hostile language but selects stories that undermine his authority or show him in a negative light, consistent with Lenta.ru's critical stance toward the Ukrainian government.

• Trump as active agent in international affairs
• Trump's statements reported with direct quotes and minimal evaluative distance
• Occasional use of verbs implying deception or weakness ('попался на уловку', 'дерзко высказался')
• Mix of neutral reporting and subtle negative framing

Headline 1 uses 'попался на уловку' (fell for a trick) which is mildly negative toward Trump, but most headlines report his statements neutrally or with direct quotes. The outlet does not consistently delegitimize or lionize Trump; stance is mixed but leans neutral overall.

• Putin as active decision-maker (appoints, establishes, approves)
• Putin quoted directly without distancing verbs
• Putin's statements and initiatives treated as significant and newsworthy
• Positive framing of Putin's actions (congratulations, friend designation)

Headlines are predominantly factual and neutral in tone, but the consistent selection of Putin's authoritative actions (appointments, approvals, statements) and the absence of critical or distancing language indicate a favourable stance. The entity is treated as a legitimate and central political actor.

• Orban quoted directly as a credible source
• Orban's actions framed as justified or principled
• Orban's opponents portrayed as aggressive or irrational
• Orban's statements presented without distancing verbs

Orban is consistently quoted making strong accusations against Ukraine and the EU, but the outlet treats him as an authoritative voice, not as a problem. The few headlines mentioning Zelensky (6, 12) frame him as reacting negatively to Orban, further reinforcing Orban's position. Headlines 19 and 22 are in Bulgarian but follow the same pattern.

• Quotes Russian officials attacking EU leaders
• Frames EU leaders as complaining or confused
• Highlights EU internal conflicts and failures
• Uses distancing or negative framing for EU actions

The outlet rarely speaks in its own voice; most negative framing is achieved by quoting Russian officials (Dmitriev, Zakharova) attacking EU figures. The entity is the EU, but many headlines focus on von der Leyen personally. The outlet's selection of critical quotes and failure stories suggests a skeptical stance toward the EU, but the effect is indirect.

• Quotes Netanyahu as authoritative decision-maker
• Foregrounds Israeli actions and successes
• Uses neutral or positive framing for Israeli operations
• Minimal distancing verbs when reporting Israeli statements

Headlines are predominantly about Netanyahu and Israeli actions, reported without evaluative negativity; the outlet treats Israeli officials as credible sources. However, some headlines (e.g., #20) show Trump rejecting Netanyahu's idea, which slightly tempers the positive stance. The entity is IL (country), not just Netanyahu, but coverage focuses on Israeli leadership and military actions as legitimate.

• Lavrov is the subject of active, declarative verbs (заявил, сообщил, указал, потребовал, назвал)
• Headlines present his statements as authoritative announcements, not as claims or allegations
• Lavrov is shown as a diplomat who jokes, exchanges telegrams, and makes demands on behalf of Russia
• No distancing language or critical framing of Lavrov himself

Lavrov's quoted content is often critical of the US, Israel, or Ukraine, but the outlet treats him as a credible, authoritative voice — hence positive stance toward him.

• entity quoted as evaluator of situations
• entity's statements presented as expert analysis
• entity's calls and predictions framed as significant
• entity's criticism of others reported without distancing

The entity is consistently quoted making critical statements about the EU, US, and other actors, but the outlet treats him as an authoritative source whose assessments are newsworthy and presented without skepticism or distancing language.

• Netanyahu is quoted directly and without distancing verbs
• Headlines present his actions as decisive and strategic
• Negative framing is directed at Iran, not at Netanyahu
• Conspiracy theories about his death are debunked by experts

Headline 11 shows Trump rejecting Netanyahu's idea, but this is a factual report of a disagreement, not a negative stance toward Netanyahu by Lenta.ru. Overall, the outlet treats Netanyahu as a credible and authoritative figure.