In May-June 1988 United States president Ronald Reagan visited the USSR and participated in a five day Moscow summit with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. The following is an abridged version of their joint statement:

“The President and the General Secretary view the Moscow summit as an important step in the process of putting US-Soviet relations on a more productive and sustainable basis. Their comprehensive and detailed discussions covered the full agenda of issues… Serious differences remain on important issues. The frank dialogue which has developed between the two countries remains critical to surmounting these differences…

They reaffirmed their solemn conviction that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought, their determination to prevent any war between the United States and Soviet Union, whether nuclear or conventional, and their disavowal of any intention to achieve military superiority.

The two leaders are convinced that the expanding political dialogue they have established represents an increasingly effective means of resolving issues of mutual interest and concern. They do not minimise the real differences of history, tradition and ideology which will continue to characterise the US-Soviet relationship. But they believe that the dialogue will endure because it is based on realism and focused on the achievement of concrete results… It is a process which the President and the General Secretary believe serves the best interests of the peoples of the United States and the Soviet Union and can contribute to a more stable, more peaceful and safer world.

The President and the General Secretary, having expressed the commitment of their two countries to build on progress to date in arms control, determined objectives and next steps on a wide range of issues in this area. These will guide the efforts of the two Governments in the months ahead as they work with each other and with other states toward equitable, verifiable agreements that strengthen international stability and security…

Ronald Reagan and Mr Gorbachev expressed their joint confidence that the extensive work done provides the basis for concluding the treaty on reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms which will promote strategic stability and strengthen security not only of the peoples of the USSR and the USA, but of all mankind.

Guided by this fundamental agreement… the delegations of the two countries have been instructed to return to Geneva on July 12th 1988. It has been agreed as a matter of principle that, once the remaining problems are solved and the treaty and its associated documents are agreed, they will be signed without delay…”