Gorbachev: Gloating West wasted chance of safer world

The failure of the United States and its Western allies to offer vital aid amid the break-up of the Soviet Union 25 years ago was short-sighted gloating at the Cold War rival's demise, Mikhail Gorbachev has said.

The failure of the United States and its Western allies to offer vital aid amid the break-up of the Soviet Union 25 years ago was short-sighted gloating at the Cold War rival's demise and wasted the chance to build a safer world, the bloc's former supremo Mikhail Gorbachev has said.

But Mr Gorbachev, 85, the Soviet Union's last leader, voiced hope that Russia and the United States would do better and ease current tensions during Donald Trump's presidency.