Mikhail Gorbachev

Mikhail Gorbachev, the former Soviet leader who brought the Cold War to a peaceful end, has died aged 91.

Mr Gorbachev took power in 1985 and introduced reforms, as well as opening up the Soviet Union to the world.

But he was unable to prevent the slow collapse of the union, and many Russians blamed him for the years of turmoil that ensued.

Outside Russia, he was widely respected, with the UN chief saying he had "changed the course of history".

"Mikhail Gorbachev was a one-of-a kind statesman," UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said. "The world has lost a towering global leader, committed multilateralist, and tireless advocate for peace."

The hospital in Moscow where he died said he had been suffering from a long and serious illness.

In recent years, his health had been in decline and he had been in and out of hospital. In June, international media reported that he had been admitted after suffering from a kidney ailment, though his cause of death has not been announced.

He will be buried in Moscow's Novodevichy cemetery, the resting place of many prominent Russians. It is not clear whether he will receive a state funeral.

Reports have suggested he had a strained relationship with President Vladimir Putin, who has expressed his deepest condolences, according to his spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Mr Gorbachev was said to have been unhappy with Mr Putin's decision to invade Ukraine, even though he had supported the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

www.bbc.com/news/uk-62732447

Mikhail Gorbachev, the late last leader of the Soviet Union and architect of perestroika, led the country through “dramatic” and challenging times, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

Gorbachev passed away at the age of 91 on Tuesday.

“Mikhail Gorbachev was a politician and statesman who made a profound impact on the course of world history,” Putin wrote in a condolence letter to Gorbachev’s family.

After becoming the leader of the Soviet Union in 1985, Gorbachev launched sweeping reforms aimed at the liberalization of the economy and public life. His tenure saw the fall of the Berlin Wall and end of the Cold War. He resigned at the end of 1991 with the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Gorbachev was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990.

www.rt.com/russia/561877-gorbachev-profound-impact-history-putin