Which leader of the Soviet Union attempted to ease Cold War tensions but later faced criticism?

The leader who attempted to ease Cold War tensions and later faced criticism was Mikhail Gorbachev. His policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) aimed to reform the Soviet political and economic system. Gorbachev sought to reduce hostilities with the West, famously initiating arms reduction negotiations with the United States, which included the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 1987.

These policies were revolutionary for the Soviet Union, transitioning it towards more openness and engagement with the West. However, they also led to significant internal strife and economic turmoil, as the reforms unleashed nationalist movements within various Soviet republics and eroded the grip of Communist Party control. Consequently, Gorbachev faced criticism both domestically and internationally; while many viewed his efforts as a step towards peace, others blamed him for the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union.

On the other hand, Nikita Khrushchev's efforts to de-escalate tensions, particularly during the Cuban Missile Crisis, were significant but did not encompass the breadth of reform initiatives that Gorbachev undertook. The leaders Leonid Brezhnev and Iosef Stalin were known for their more hardline, conservative approaches during their ten