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Regans's military build-up
The five-year, $1.5 trillion defense program for 1982-1986 included two strategic weapons systems inherited from the Carter administration that had a "counterforce" capability, the MX ICBM and the Trident II SLBM. Reagan's budget also resumed production of the B-1 bomber, which Carter had canceled for budgetary reasons and also included funds for the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). -
Reykjyavik Summit
Gorbachev accepted Reagan's "zero option" plan, whereby all Soviet SS-20 intermediate-range missiles based in Europe would be dismantled in exchange for the removal of the Pershing IIs and GLCMs that NATO had deployed, The two leaders agreed in principle to a 50 percent reduction in all ballistic missiles, ICBMs and SLBMs, within five years and even proposed the abolishment of all nuclear weaspons within ten years. -
INF Treaty
The signing of the INF treaty between the two leaders provided for the destruction of all NATO's Pershing IIs and GLCMs and all of the Soviet SS-20s by the end of 1991, which represented a milestone in the history of nuclear arms control. Gorbachev also drastically asymmetrical reduced the number of theatre nuclear weapons by destructing 851 Soviet launchers and 1836 missiles compared to 283 Amercian launchers and 867 missiles, which highlights his willingness to limit the nuclear arms race. -
Gorbachev's speech at the UN
Gorbachev called for a new approach to international relations based on the principles of global security and interdependence, declaring that the increasingly warm relations between Moscow and Washington had set an excellent example of constructive dialogue free of ideology, signifying an end of ideology conflict and hence a ocncrete step towards ending the cold war. He also endorsed the principle of 'freedom of choice' and further announced a reduction in the Soviet military presence in EE. -
Solidarity wins Polish elections
Solidarity candidates won almost all of the contested seats when free elections were held in June for a third of the lower house and the entire upper house of the Polish parliament. A Solidarity-led coalition took power in Warsaw in August, which is the first non-Communist government in Eastern Europe since the advent of the Cold War, hence marking the end of Cold war as defined by a division in Europe. -
Fall of Berlin Wall
It marked the end of Cold War as defined by a division in Europe. -
The emergence of Boris Yeltsin
He became chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Republic in May 1990 and was elected president of the enormous Russian Republic by popular vote in Jun 1991. -
Union Treaty
In one last desperate gamble to hold the country together through peaceful means, Gorbachev had presented to the Supreme Soviet in November 1990 the draft of a so-called Union Treaty that accorded much greater autonomy to the Soviet republics. -
August coup
The August coup cemented Yeltsin's political postition and damaged Gorbachev's credibility beyond repair at the same time, triggering the collapse of the USSR.
