PRAGMATIC STRATEGIES FOR COVERING THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR IN THE AMERICAN MEDIA: A COGNITIVE-DISCURSIVE APPROACH

Abstract

The article analyzes pragmatic strategies of representing the Russian-Ukrainian war in American media (The New York Times, The Washington Post) within the framework of a cognitive-discursive approach. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to identify linguistic mechanisms of influence that shape interpretive models of military conflict in the global information space. The purpose of the article is to identify and systematize the pragmatic strategies of US media discourse and outline their role in constructing the image of war. The methodology combines cognitive-discursive, critical discourse analysis, and content analysis. The focus is on evaluative vocabulary, modality, evidentiality, metaphor, and framing. The analysis shows that the US media consistently constructs a picture of war through a combination of emotional-evaluative and cognitive strategies aimed at legitimizing support for Ukraine and presenting Russia as a threat to international security. The dynamics of rhetoric in 2022–2025 demonstrate a transition from initial shock to strategic reflection and established discursive frameworks. The results deepen our understanding of the pragmatic mechanisms of contemporary media discourse and open up prospects for further research in cognitive linguistics and media linguistics.