1985-1991
Since coming to power of Mikhail Gorbachev, who proclaimed "socialist pluralism" and "priority of human values over class, ideological opposition quickly lost its edge. In the sense of politico-military, Gorbachev initially tried to pursue policies in the spirit of "detente" 1970. Offering programs to arms limitation, but rather hard bargaining over contract terms (meeting in Reykjavik).
However, the development of the political process in the Soviet Union toward the rejection of communist ideology, as well as the dependence of the economy of the USSR of Western technology and credits in connection with the sharp decline in oil prices has led to what the Soviet Union went to great concessions in foreign policy. In 1988 begins the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. The fall of the communist system in Eastern Europe during the revolutions of 1989 led to the elimination of the Soviet bloc, and with it - and the actual end of the Cold War.
Meanwhile, the Soviet Union itself in deep crisis. The central government began to lose control of the Union republics. On the outskirts of the country's ethnic conflict broke out. In December 1991, came the final collapse of the USSR.