This collection consists of two FOIA files from the Bush Library. The first file contains material related to the Moscow Summit and the August 19-22, 1991 Coup against Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. During the summit, President Bush met with President Gorbachev in Moscow and later visited Kiev. These materials include the planning documents and briefing books related to the Summit. The Coup attempt against Gorbachev began on the morning of the August 19 while he was on vacation, and ended upon his return to Moscow on August 22. This part of the collection contains cables sent to the White House Situation Room concerning day-by-day developments, and conversations between President Bush and other foreign leaders.

The second file contains material related to the dissolution of the Soviet Union. On December 21, 1991, following years of reform and upheaval behind the Iron Curtain, eleven Soviet republics joined together to form the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Four days later, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as president of the Soviet Union, and on 26 December 1991, the Soviet Union formally ceased to exist. Documents specifically address issues concerning economic and humanitarian support, diplomatic recognition of the republics, aiding the transition to democratic governments and market economies, and defense issues, particularly the fate and control over the former Soviet Union's vast nuclear arsenal.

19 reels