The USSR and the End of the Cold War

The article is devoted to the end of the Cold War and its political repercussions. The main events of the final period of the Cold War and the role of the USSR in the end of the confrontation between East and West are explored. It is noted that the end of the cold war was the result of interaction of both sides, but a decisive role still belonged to the change of leadership in the Soviet Union and the new policies of Mikhail Gorbachev. It is emphasized that “The Paris Charter for a New Europe” signed in November 1990 by the participants of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe confi rmed the end of the cold war. No one spoke about victory in the Cold War and the defeat of the Soviet Union then. The author draws attention to the fact that Russia has paid too high a price for the cessation of confrontation between East and West, and the United States has got its maximum benefi t, creating the myth of the victory over the USSR. The policy of the West towards post-Soviet Russia not only did refl ect the real contribution of the participants to the end of the Cold War, but also testifi ed the attitude to Russia as to defeated country.