The end of the Cold War. When Mikhail Gorbachev assumed the reins of power in the Soviet Union in 1985, no one predicted the revolution he would bring. A dedicated reformer, Gorbachev introduced the policies of glasnost and perestroika to the USSR.

During 1989 and 1990, the Berlin Wall came down, borders opened, and free elections ousted Communist regimes everywhere in eastern Europe. In late 1991 the Soviet Union itself dissolved into its component republics. With stunning speed, the Iron Curtain was lifted and the Cold War came to an end.

Gorbachev also moved to end the Cold War. In 1988, the USSR abandoned its war in Afghanistan and began to withdraw its forces. In the following year, Gorbachev refused to interfere in the internal affairs of the Soviet satellite states, which paved the way for the Revolutions of 1989.

Oct 27, 2009 · The End of the Cold War and Effects. Almost as soon as he took office, President Richard Nixon (1913-1994) began to implement a new approach to international relations. Instead of viewing the...

Feb 15, 2024 · The Cold War ended with a series of events that included political reforms and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The fall of the Berlin Wall and Germany's reunification were symbolic and practical markers of the Cold War's end. The aftermath altered global dynamics, leading to new geopolitical challenges and legacies.

O n December 25, 1991, U.S. president George Bush (1924–; served 1989–1993) proclaimed the end of the Cold War, calling the occasion a "victory for democracy and freedom."

At the Malta summit in December 1989, Gorbachev and US President George H.W. Bush declared the end of the Cold War. The next year, the Soviet Union consented to the reunification of Germany. In 1991, the Soviet Union broke up into 15 independent states.

Jan 14, 2025 · Explore the impact of the end of the cold war on global politics, shifting power dynamics, and the evolving world order.

Mar 29, 2022 · How Did The Cold War End? December 1988: Gorbachev meets with both George H. W. Bush and Ronald Reagan. It’s agreed that the Cold War must end. 1989: Gorbachev is determined to loosen Soviet control over nations in the Communist Bloc.

Jan 30, 2023 · End of Cold War: Timeline. The issues within the Soviet Union were present as far back as the 1970s, but it was during the 1980s that these accelerated and culminated in its demise. Here we chart the important events that contributed to its …