Summit Meetings

Question 1

What happens at Geneva?

Answer 1

Leaders: Reagan (USA) and Gorbachev (USSR)
Key outcomes:
• First time they met face to face.
• No formal agreements — but they established a good personal relationship.
• Agreed to work towards reducing nuclear weapons.

✅ Importance: A turning point — opened the door to future cooperation.

Question 2

What happened at Reykjavik Summit (1986)?

Answer 2

Leaders: Reagan and Gorbachev
Key outcomes:
• Gorbachev proposed major cuts to nuclear weapons.
• Almost agreed to get rid of all nuclear missiles.
• Talks broke down because Reagan refused to end SDI (Strategic Defense Initiative / “Star Wars”).

✅ Importance: Despite failure, it showed both sides were serious about arms control.

Question 3

Washington Summit ?

Answer 3

Leaders: Reagan and Gorbachev
Key outcomes:
• Signed the INF Treaty (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty).
• First agreement to actually reduce the number of nuclear weapons.

✅ Importance: Big breakthrough — trust was growing, and détente was clearly returning.

Question 4

Moscow Summit (1988)?

Answer 4

Leaders: Reagan and Gorbachev
Key outcomes:
• Ratified the INF Treaty (put it into effect).
• More agreements on human rights and trade.
• Reagan said he no longer saw the USSR as the “evil empire.”

✅ Importance: Showed real change in attitudes on both sides.

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Question 5

Malta Summit (1989)?

Answer 5

Leaders: George H. W. Bush (new US president) and Gorbachev
Key outcomes:
• Cold War declared over (informally).
• Agreed to cooperate going forward — no more conflict between superpowers.

✅ Importance: Marked the official end of the Cold War.