Mikhail Gorbachev was the leader of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, particularly from 1985 until the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. He is recognized for his policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring), aiming to reform the stagnant Soviet economy and promote greater transparency. Gorbachev's vision for change led to a significant thaw in Cold War tensions, facilitating dialogue with Western leaders, including U.S. President Ronald Reagan. His initiatives ultimately contributed to the end of the Cold War, although they also precipitated political unrest and independence movements within the Soviet republics, culminating in the USSR's collapse.