End of the Cold War and U.S.-Soviet Relations (1985–1991)

1. Gorbachev becomes Soviet Communist Party leader

   Mar 11, 1985Labels: Mikhail Gorbachev, Communist Party, Soviet Union

   • HISTORY
   • Britannica

2. Reagan and Gorbachev meet at Geneva Summit

   Nov 19, 1985Labels: Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev, Geneva Summit

   • Britannica
   • Washington Post

3. Chernobyl disaster strains Soviet credibility

   Apr 26, 1986Labels: Chernobyl, Soviet government, Reactor 4

   • IAEA
   • U S DOE

4. Reykjavík summit nearly reaches sweeping arms deal

   Oct 11, 1986Labels: Reykjav k, Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev

   • Britannica
   • Reagan Library

5. Reagan urges change in Berlin Brandenburg Gate speech

   Jun 12, 1987Labels: Ronald Reagan, Brandenburg Gate, Berlin

   • Gilder Lehrman
   • Reagan Library

6. INF Treaty signed at Washington Summit

   Dec 8, 1987Labels: INF Treaty, Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev

   • Britannica
   • NATO

7. Moscow Summit finalizes INF Treaty implementation

   May 29, 1988Labels: Moscow Summit, INF Treaty, Ronald Reagan

   • AP News
   • Moscow Summit

8. Soviet Union completes troop withdrawal from Afghanistan

   Feb 15, 1989Labels: Soviet Union, Afghanistan, Troop withdrawal

   • Britannica
   • Washington Post

9. East Germany opens the Berlin Wall

   Nov 9, 1989Labels: Berlin Wall, East Germany, Border crossings

   • Britannica
   • HISTORY

10. Bush and Gorbachev hold Malta Summit

    Dec 2, 1989Labels: Malta Summit, George H, Mikhail Gorbachev

    • UPI
    • Malta Summit

11. Two Plus Four Treaty signed to settle Germany’s status

    Sep 12, 1990Labels: Two Plus, Germany, Occupying powers

    • Britannica
    • Two Plus Four

12. START I signed, cutting strategic nuclear arsenals

    Jul 31, 1991Labels: START I, George H, Mikhail Gorbachev

    • NPS
    • START I

13. Gorbachev resigns as the Soviet Union collapses

    Dec 25, 1991Labels: Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin, Soviet Union

    • Washington Post
    • HISTORY