Search | Wilson Center Digital Archive

Switch to Visualization

Soviet Union Clear All

Related Resources

Soviet soldier taking a photograph of another soldier in Red Square, Moscow, 1959

Eastern Europe

Soviet Union

Portrait of Mao Zedong on Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, China, 1972.

East Asia

China

Aerial view of National Mall

North America

United States

Sino-Soviet Relations

Pyongyang photographed in March 20212

East Asia

North Korea

Cuba's National Capitol Building, January 2010.

Central America and Caribbean

Cuba

Sino-Soviet Split, 1960-1984

Placeholder image for when a places image is not available

Eastern Europe

Poland

A photo of Joseph Stalin from 1943

Stalin, Joseph

1879 - 1953

Executive Committee of the National Security Committee during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Cuban Missile Crisis

Portrait of Mao Zedong from propaganda poster

Mao, Zedong

1893 - 1976

Sino-Soviet Alliance, 1950-1959

Mikhail Gorbachev, 1986

Gorbachev, Mikhail Sergeevich

1931 - 2022

Nikita Khrushchev Collection

Photograph of 38th parallel crossing during Korean War

Korean War, 1950-1953

Nikita Khrushchev at the UNGA, 1962.

Khrushchev, Nikita Sergeevich

1894 - 1971

Aerial photograph of CIA headquarters

United States. Central Intelligence Agency

-

Photograph of Zhou Enlai in 1972.

Zhou, Enlai

1898 - 1976

Results:

31 - 40 of 4110

Display:

Sort By:

Documents

May 25, 1961	Transcript of the Conversation between N.S. Khrushchev And The Prime Minister of the Somali Republic Abdirashid Ali Shermarke Khrushchev and Somali Prime Minister Shermarke discuss Somalia’s efforts to maintain political and economic independence following decolonization, with Shermarke requesting Soviet assistance for development projects in agriculture, industry, and infrastructure. Khrushchev emphasizes the Soviet Union’s support for anti-imperialist movements and offers potential economic cooperation while acknowledging the need to balance assistance with domestic priorities.
November 23, 1979	From the Journal of A.F. Dobrynin, 'Record of a Conversation with Z Former US Secretary of State Kissinger, 23 November 1979’ In this November 1979 conversation, Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin confronted former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger over his increasingly anti-Soviet rhetoric and alignment with Republican hardliners, which Dobrynin criticized as opportunistic and damaging to détente. Kissinger defended his shift as a tactical response to domestic political pressures and his ambitions to return to government, while still insisting he valued stable Soviet-American relations. The discussion also touched on US fears of instability in Saudi Arabia, the strategic implications of Soviet and Cuban involvement in Africa, and Kissinger's belief in the need for a tacit division of global influence between the superpowers.
March 1, 1978	From the Journal of A.F. Dobrynin, 'Record of a Conversation with Z. Brzezinski, Assistant to the President of the US for National Security, 1 March 1978' In this March 1978 conversation, Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin and US National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski discussed rising US concerns over Soviet and Cuban military involvement in the Horn of Africa, particularly its perceived threat to Western oil routes and the stability of Saudi Arabia. Dobrynin rejected Brzezinski’s fears as exaggerated, reiterating that the conflict stemmed from Somali aggression and emphasizing that the Soviet presence supported Ethiopia's defense. The meeting ended with both sides restating their entrenched positions, with the US seeking assurances of de-escalation and Soviet withdrawal, which Dobrynin declined to provide.
January 15, 1975	From the Journal of A.F. Dobrynin, 'Record of a Conversation with Vice President of the United States N. Rockefeller and Secretary of State H. Kissinger, 15 January 1975’ In this January 1975 conversation, Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin met with US Vice President Nelson Rockefeller and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to discuss the state of US-Soviet relations, focusing on discriminatory trade legislation, strategic arms negotiations, and the upcoming Brezhnev visit. Kissinger and Rockefeller expressed shared concerns over congressional interference in foreign policy and emphasized their commitment to preserving détente, while privately assuring Dobrynin that recent US threats of military intervention in the Middle East were strategic posturing to prevent another oil embargo. The meeting also highlighted US plans for long-term energy independence and efforts to sustain diplomatic momentum despite mounting domestic political challenges.
December 18, 1974	From the Journal of A.F. Dobrynin, 'Record of a Conversation with US Secretary of State of the United States Henry Kissinger, 18 December 1974' During a December 1974 conversation between Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin and US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Kissinger expressed frustration over the public release of a Soviet letter amid sensitive trade legislation in Congress. The discussion also covered U.S. and European coordination on the Pan-European Conference and ongoing Middle East negotiations, with Dobrynin warning that US unilateral actions risked undermining broader peace efforts and US-Soviet relations.
February 18, 1961	Instructions of N. S. Khrushchev to the CPSU CC Concerning the Preparation of a Letter to Asian and African Countries About a Reorganization of the UN Khrushchev criticizes UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld for failing to prevent the murder of Patrice Lumumba, arguing that those who enabled the conditions for his death share responsibility. He calls for the reorganization of the United Nations to ensure equal representation for all countries, asserting that its current structure serves the interests of colonial and imperial powers rather than newly independent states.
February 14, 1961	Record of Conversation between N.S. Khrushchev and the Turkish Ambassador Fahri Korutürk Khrushchev shares details of recent Soviet economic achievements and discusses the possibility of a joint Soviet-Turkish dam project on the Aras River, which the Turkish ambassador, Fahri Korutürk, agrees to consider. Khrushchev expresses interest in improving bilateral relations, referencing historical cooperation, while briefly noting Turkey’s ties to NATO—a topic the ambassador chooses not to pursue.
February 13, 1961	Record of Conversation between N.S. Khrushchev and the Egyptian Ambassador to the USSR Mohammed Al-Kun As Ambassador El-Kuni bid farewell to Khrushchev, he thanked the Soviet Union for its support of the Arab peoples and the UAR, while Khrushchev expressed hope for continued strong relations, highlighting the Aswan Dam as a lasting symbol of friendship. Khrushchev also privately criticized the UAR's treatment of communists and warned that undemocratic practices could strain relations, while El-Kuni defended the government's actions as necessary for national stability.
January 3, 1961	Record of Conversation between Members of the Indonesian Delegation and N.S. Khrushchev During a January 1961 meeting with Khrushchev, an Indonesian delegation requested Soviet military support—including arms, aircraft, and infrastructure—to bolster defenses amid escalating Dutch activity in Western New Guinea (Papua). They also sought eased loan repayment terms, emphasizing shared anti-colonial goals and the urgency of strengthening Indonesia's position against potential unrest and foreign intervention.
September 24, 1960	Conversation Record of N.S. Khrushchev with G.A. Nasser in New York In their 1960 conversation in New York, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser discussed global political tensions, particularly US influence over the United Nations, the Congo crisis, and colonialism in Africa. Khrushchev criticized the UN Secretary-General as a tool of American imperialism and proposed a tripartite leadership structure representing socialist, imperialist, and neutral states. Nasser highlighted Western interference in African and Middle Eastern affairs, while both leaders expressed concerns about imperialist strategies and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting anti-colonial movements.

Refine Results

Stalin, Joseph 274

Mao, Zedong 214

Gorbachev, Mikhail Sergeevich 159

Khrushchev, Nikita Sergeevich 140

United States. Central Intelligence Agency 134

United States 1146

North Korea 577

Sino-Soviet Relations 738

Sino-Soviet Split, 1960-1984 357

Cuban Missile Crisis 224

Sino-Soviet Alliance, 1950-1959 198

Nikita Khrushchev Collection 159