Towards the end of the Cold War, the USSR had internal troubles, including satellite nations that wanted more freedom and democracy, as well as problems with the economy. Soon, the then-USSR leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, allowed Glasnot, or opennes, which ended the USSR's rule in 1991. He led the domestic reform and nuclear disarmament to help end the cold war, but because of internal factors, helped brake apart the USSR and lead to the downfall of communism in Europe.