There were significant changes in Soviet policy under Mikhail Gorbachev (President of USSR). He introduced the policies of Glasnost (openness i.e., transparency in governance and freedom of expression) and Perestroika (reconstruction of the political and economic system).
His new foreign policy included:
withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan
stopping of the arms race with the US and focused on arms control
opening a dialogue with China.
Gorbachev also tried to reform domestic politics. Control of the Communist Party ended and people were given the right to criticize the government. On 25th December 1991, Gorbachev resigned and the next day the USSR as a country ceased to exist. This led to the Commonwealth of Independent States is established.
