Советская дипломатия и Западный Берлин. 1965-1969 гг (L)

After the leadership of L.I. Brezhnev came to power in the USSR, Soviet policy on the issue of West Berlin for some time remained the same as during the “late Khrushchev”. The Soviet Union continued to insist that West Berlin was an independent political entity. The spearhead of his policy was directed against the federal presence in this city. At the beginning of 1969, the "third Berlin crisis" broke out, during which the USSR avoided steps that could lead to a dangerous aggravation of the situation. In addition, Soviet diplomacy was looking for opportunities to support the Social Democrats headed by S.V. Brandt on the eve of the elections to the Bundestag in September 1969. On July 10, 1969, the USSR declared its readiness to exchange views with the Western powers on issues related to West Berlin. This was the beginning of a turning point in the development of the West Berlin question.