From the Conversation of Mikhail Gorbachev and Francois Mitterand

In the mid- to late 1980s, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev embarked on a new path for the Soviet Union by introducing significant changes to his country’s domestic and foreign policies, which eventually led to the collapse of the Soviet bloc and the end of the Cold War. Gorbachev’s glasnost resulted in a crucial shift toward more open dialogue not only within the Soviet Union but also with Western countries, as shown through his private dinner conversation held on July 5, 1989, with Francois Mitterand, the president of France. In their friendly discussion, the two leaders exhibited mutual respect for their personal views regarding foreign relations and the situation within Eastern Europe. This openness helped solidify a new and more cooperative relationship between the Soviet Union and Western countries.