This article presents considerations regarding the role of rationality, trust and emotions in the strategic relations between Russia and the West in the context of the intensification of the conflict in Ukraine. The author comes to the conclusion that emotions currently represent a serious obstacle to strategic stability, yet with a return to building trust based on reason and calculations, it is possible to find a way to manage the situation successfully. The author emphasizes the necessity for the sides to (re)negotiate the common understanding about key points relevant to strategic relations between them, in particular, the legitimacy of red lines and the appropriateness or proportionality of responses in case those red lines are crossed.