Chapter 244 The End of the Cold War

"When Comrade Stalin took over the Soviet Union, we were surrounded by hostile countries. The largest capitalist countries in the world, including yours, did not recognize the legitimacy of our regime. In the countryside, most peasants still use The original wooden plow is used for slash-and-burn agricultural production. In the cities, the pencil factory founded by Comrade Hamer in your country is enough for Comrade Lenin to regard him as a distinguished guest of the Soviet Union. Almost no country in the world is willing to trade with us, I think It doesn't matter that the Soviet Union was not blocked by Western countries for a year, but your blockade can only make us stronger. During World War II, we wiped out 1.5 million of Germany's most elite troops in Stalingrad, while the United Kingdom and the United States Together, they only wiped out less than 500,000 old and weak German soldiers in Normandy. Mr. President, if you sincerely hope for world peace today, you'd better reconsider your conditions. We are willing to live in peace with you, but we At least the status between them is equal now. Don’t think that you can’t live without the Soviet Union. Comrade Stalin personally proved how strong the Soviet Union can be without foreign help. Your blockade allowed us to regain Estonia and Latvia and Lithuania, defeated the invasions of Poland, Finland and Romania. We can complete industrialization while being blocked, and defeat the mighty German invaders. And we are confident that we will destroy all enemies who plot against us..."

Seryozha's long talk was delivered so fast and in English that President Bush understood him perfectly. He fully understands the intention of Seryozha's remarks, don't think that now that the Soviet Union is in economic difficulties, it is really the end of the road. When Stalin first came to power, the situation was much more dangerous than it is now, and the Soviet Union can survive it, let alone now? Seryozha knew what Americans were afraid of. Even if Stalin died for decades, he would always be a nightmare for Americans. If no concessions are made today, is it possible that Stalinism in the Soviet Union will rise again?

President Bush knew what Seryozha meant by these words, but Bush is an elected president, and in the first year of his first presidential term, he had the opportunity to personally end the Cold War, which is a big deal for any president achievements. The history of the world will record his feat of ending the Cold War and bringing the world to peace. You must know that not every president has this kind of luck. His predecessor, Reagan, had been president for eight years, and his political performance was quite good, but he could only make a wedding dress for himself. But what Sergei Sha said today poured cold water on Bush. Seryozha used the history of the Soviet Union to tell him that the Soviet Union could develop well without anyone's help. For today's negotiations, Bush has only one chance, while the Soviet Union actually has many choices.

Gorbachev, Yakovlev, and Shevardnadze present all understood the real intention behind Serezha's stunned speech. The silence of the United States also allowed Gorbachev to see a turning point in the matter. At this moment, he suddenly felt that his heart seemed to be much more relaxed. In the sixty years since the founding of the Soviet Union, what kind of crisis has not been experienced. Compared with the crisis of Stalin and Lenin, what are these problems now?

Bush is thinking about what to do in his heart. What if the Soviet Union is really angered by the details and the Cold War continues to be dragged on? I am afraid that there will be no such opportunity within ten years. Today, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is in front of him to meet the requirements of the Soviets. It will become the greatest president of the United States after World War II, because he personally ended the Cold War. But if they disagree, the Soviets will walk away. With Gorbachev’s age and the resilience of the Soviets, there will be no problem with the end of the Cold War for another four years. At that time, whether Bush can continue to be the The president has something to say.

The meeting room was quiet, and no one spoke for a long time. The representative of the United States, which claims to be democratic and free, is thinking about its own political career and the interests of its party, while the so-called dictatorship of the Soviet Union is considering the interests of the entire country.

At this moment, Seryozha and all the Soviet officials present were fighting for the interests of their motherland, because their success and failure did not affect their own future, but the vital interests of the 300 million Soviet people. But the representatives of the United States are considering their own gains and losses.

"Mr. Gorbachev, let's talk about the topic just now..." After repeated weighing, President Bush finally let go of his posture. He really didn't want the glory of ending the Cold War to fly to others. hands.

The Soviet representatives breathed a sigh of relief when they heard this sentence. At least now they know the cards of the Americans. They are more eager to end the Cold War than the Soviet Union. As long as this is confirmed, the Soviet Union can reformulate its negotiating strategy.

US Secretary of State James Baker did not expect Ulyanov, who has always been inconspicuous, to lead the negotiations this time. Just a few minutes ago, Gorbachev was almost submissive to the United States, but now, Gorbachev is aggressive. Baker had always believed that the Minister of Foreign Trade of the Soviet Union came to Malta to seek alms from the United States, and he never paid attention to this young man who looked less than 30 years old. But he did not expect that the youngest official in the Gorbachev delegation had such a tough attitude.

As the United States changed its attitude, the negotiations between the two sides went much smoother. The Americans agreed to provide low-interest and no-interest loans to the Soviet Union, but on the premise that the Soviet Union reduced its strategic weapons and medium-range missiles. In addition, the two sides also discussed trade and other issues.

In the next few days of meetings, the Soviets were very satisfied with the concessions made by the Americans, and both sides negotiated with great sincerity. As the democratically elected president, Bush knows that now is not the time to protect the interests of the United States as much as possible. If he wants to end the Cold War and win the victory he has won, no matter how many interests he has won for the United States at the negotiating table, he will return home. After that he will lose the support of voters. Voters didn't care what he was bargaining with the Soviet Union at all, only whether the Soviet missiles would fall on their heads. This is the topic that the American people are most concerned about.

The Malta Conference was held for a week. After the summit, the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union signed the Malta Statement, announcing the complete end of the Cold War confrontation and the start of comprehensive cooperation. This news immediately hit the headlines of major media around the world. From this moment on, the shadow of the outbreak of the Third World War dissipated, and the Malta summit was regarded as a symbolic event of the end of the Cold War.