So, what does this “master negotiator” have in his arsenal? Just one approach: the deal. No mutual understanding, no genuine agreement, no intrigue, no balancing of interests—just goods for cash. This for that.

His toolkit? Force and coercion.

Now, there’s nothing inherently wrong with deals. But many situations—especially in diplomacy—are far more complex than what a crude transaction can resolve. That’s why we call it “diplomacy,” not “wheeling and dealing.”

And then there’s a global-scale problem that Russia spent 15 years trying to solve—first through persuasion, then appeals to reason, then negotiations, ultimatums, and finally, war.

Yet the “master negotiator” claimed he could fix it in 24 hours. Predictably… he didn’t.