What happens when the media begins to influence diplomacy? The answer can be traced from the corridors of the Cold War to today’s digital world.

“From 2014, Putin has broken the ceasefire 25 times…Twenty-five times he has broken his own signature… that’s why we will never accept only ceasefire, it will not work without security guarantees.” This was Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy at a meeting in the Oval Office with US President Donald Trump in February 2025. “Mr. President, with due respect, I think it’s disrespectful of you to come to the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media …you should be thanking the President [Trump] for trying to bring an end to this conflict…” declared Vice President J.D. Vance. With Trump and Vance both escalating the confrontation and reprimanding Zelenskyy, the live televised bilateral meeting ended without the signing of any deal.