Gromyko

Andrei Andreyevich Gromyko (1909–1989) was a Soviet diplomat and statesman who played a central role in Soviet foreign policy during the Cold War. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1957 to 1985 and, from 1985 to 1988, as Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, effectively fulfilling the role of head of state for part of that period.

Gromyko joined the Soviet diplomatic service in the 1930s and rose through the ranks of the Foreign Ministry, becoming a leading figure in negotiations with the United States and other major powers. As foreign minister, he guided Soviet diplomacy through significant Cold War events, including periods of confrontation as well as détente, and oversaw involvement in major arms-control efforts.

He participated in the negotiation and signing of key treaties and agreements, such as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (1963), the Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968), and the SALT I and SALT II accords, as well as the Helsinki Final Act (1975), which sought to improve East–West relations and security in Europe. Known for a calm, methodical, and persistent negotiating style, Gromyko remained a central figure in Soviet diplomacy for decades and continued to influence policy through the mid-to-late 1980s before his retirement. He died in Moscow in 1989.