Changing attitudes in action

• Geneva Summit - In November 1985 Gorbachev met Reagan for first time.

  Outcome: No formal agreements were struck but a good working relationship was established which would bear fruit in the future
• Reykjavik Summit - In October 1986 Gorbachev was concerned about the danger of nuclear weapons, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster highlighted this fact. Gorbachev proposed phasing out nuclear weapons if USA dropped the SDI program.

  Outcome: USA was never going to give up the SDI program and no formal agreement was reached but improved international relations
• Washington Summit - In December 1987 Gorbachev now accepted that SDI was there to stay and the USSRs best interests were served by forming agreements which led to disarmament and reduction in military spending.

  Outcome: first US-Soviet summit to lead to a formal treaty - Intermediate-Range Nuclear Force (INF) Treaty. Both countries would abolish all land-based missiles with a range 500km to 5000km
• Moscow Summit - In 1988 some of the more complex aspects of the INF treaty were resolved.

  Outcome: Gorbachev travelled to UN later in year and announced a reduction in Warsaw Pact troops
• Malta Summit - In 1989 Gorbachev met with new US President George Bush.

  Outcome: No new formal agreements, however, both sides viewed this as the end of the Cold War.