World leaders pay tribute to Gorbachev, ex-Soviet leader who helped end the Cold War

Issued on: 31/08/2022 – 08:21

The passing of Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union and for many the man who restored democracy to then-communist-ruled European nations, was mourned Wednesday as the loss of a leader who changed the world and for a time gave hope for peace among the superpowers.

Here are some of the reactions to his death from across the world.

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin expressed his “deep sympathies” over Gorbachev’s death, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies. “Tomorrow he will send a telegram of condolences to his family and friends,” said Peskov.

UN chief Antonio Guterres

Guterres in a statement praised Gorbachev as “a one-of-a-kind statesman who changed the course of history” and “did more than any other individual to bring about the peaceful end of the Cold War”.

The statement, which was posted on Twitter, said the world has lost “a towering global leader, committed multilateralist and tireless advocate for peace”. 

French President Emmanuel Macron

Macron praised Gorbachev as a “man of peace” and sent his “condolences for the death of Mikhail Gorbachev, a man of peace whose choices opened up a path of liberty for Russians. His commitment to peace in Europe changed our shared history”.

US President Joe Biden

Biden hailed Gorbachev as a “rare leader” who made the world a safer place.

“These were the acts of a rare leader – one with the imagination to see that a different future was possible and the courage to risk his entire career to achieve it,” Biden said in a statement, referring to Gorbachev’s democratic reforms. “The result was a safer world and greater freedom for millions of people.”

“Mikhail Gorbachev was a man of remarkable vision,” Biden added.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen 

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed Gorbachev as a “trusted and respected leader” who “opened the way for a free Europe”.

His “crucial role” in bringing down the Iron Curtain, which symbolised the division of the world into communist and capitalist blocs, and ending the Cold War left a legacy “we will not forget”, she wrote on Twitter.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson

Outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he “always admired the courage and integrity” Gorbachev showed to bring the Cold War to a peaceful conclusion.

“In a time of Putin’s aggression in Ukraine, his tireless commitment to opening up Soviet society remains an example to us all,” he said in a Twitter post, referring to Moscow’s offensive in its former Soviet neighbour.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida

Kishida noted Gorbachev’s important role in the reduction of nuclear weapons held by the Soviet Union and United States, saying he had made “great achievements.”

“Mr. Gorbachev, who possessed great strategic vision and decisive execution, played a very important role,” he said. 

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)