During an informal meeting of the United Nations Security Council, Russia criticized Western media for their representation of the Ukraine conflict, asserting that these outlets have forsaken the principles of fair journalism. Anna Evstigneeva, the Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, claimed that foreign reporters have crafted a "positive and even romanticized image" of the 2014 coup in Ukraine, which led to the current hostilities. According to Russia, this narrative overlooks significant historical events and circumstances that contributed to the ongoing conflict.

Evstigneeva argued that the Western media routinely ignore the perspectives of the regions that rejected the coup, specifically Crimea and Donbass, which both later voted to join Russia. The diplomat emphasized that the Western narrative fails to acknowledge the social and political unrest in these regions, describing the coverage as biased and incomplete. The criticism highlighted a belief within Russian leadership that the depiction of the conflict lacks a comprehensive understanding of the local sentiments and the historical context that led to these developments.

Since Russia's military intervention in Ukraine began in February 2022, Evstigneeva contended that the one-sided reporting continues, particularly concerning allegations of Ukrainian forces targeting civilians. The Russian representation at the UN depicted this as part of a broader campaign to shape public perception and urged a reconsideration of how the events in Ukraine are reported, advocating for a more balanced narrative that includes the viewpoints of all parties involved in the conflict.