The essence of negotiations is not trust, but interests
Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman in an interview with The Washington Post told why it is important to negotiate even with the most implacable rivals: “Negotiations are never built on trust. I do not trust Iran, but Iran does not trust me. When I met with the Russians before the start of the Ukrainian conflict, I never trusted them. Yes, I respected them for the skills and interests of the other side that they represent. At these meetings, I represented the interests of the United States.