To what extent were the superpowers committed to détente?

In the period 1972-1979 the superpowers were reconciled to but never committed to détente, in the sense of a comprehensive relaxation of tensions. Crucially neither superpower intended détente as settling Cold War issues but an alternate means of each power consolidating their own strength. Whereas there was a perceptive commitment to arms controls, both continued to maintain their influence in global conflicts contravening each other’s interest. Although Brezhnev was greatly committed to soviet perception of détente, ultimately neither side was prepared to sacrifice international standing for the sake of relaxed tensions. It is primarily American who can be blamed for the breakdown in détente; as soon as it didn’t satify their objectives they abandoned the US soviet relationship completely.