Final answer:
Reagan and Gorbachev negotiated to significantly reduce their nations' nuclear weapons, ease Cold War tensions, and reform the Soviet Union's political and economic systems, leading to the INF Treaty and contributing to the end of the Cold War.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reagan and Gorbachev's Negotiations
U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev began to negotiate for significant reductions in their nations' nuclear arsenals. Their discussions aimed to ease Cold War tensions and address economic challenges within the Soviet Union. Gorbachev's introduction of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) signified his willingness to reform the Soviet political and economic systems. They made headway with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 1987, agreeing to eliminate an entire class of nuclear weapons. Their efforts were a pivotal step toward the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.
Throughout their meetings, including in Geneva and Reykjavik, the two leaders worked towards the goal of nuclear disarmament, with strategies focusing on reduce armaments and shrink military budgets. This culminated in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) signed by Gorbachev and President George H. W. Bush, which further solidified the commitment to a substantial reduction in nuclear weapons. These negotiations also contributed to the political landscape of Eastern Europe and the eventual reunification of Germany, signifying a shift away from the era dominated by nuclear brinkmanship.