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Digital Archive
International History Declassified
digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org
May 31, 1983
Meeting Minutes of the Politburo of the CC CPSU,
Regarding Western Plans for Deployment of New Nuclear
Weapons in Europe
Citation:
“Meeting Minutes of the Politburo of the CC CPSU, Regarding Western Plans for Deployment of New
Nuclear Weapons in Europe,” May 31, 1983, History and Public Policy Program Digital Archive,
TsKhSD, F. 89, Op. 42, D. 53, Ll. 1-14.
Summary:
Politburo discussion, presided over by Andropov, on how to respond to the Western decision to deploy
new nuclear weapons in Europe.
Credits:
This document was made possible with support from the Leon Levy Foundation and Carnegie
Corporation.
Original Language:
Russian
Contents:
English Translation

Absolutely secret
the only copy
(rough draft).
SESSION OF POLITBURO OF CC CPSU
31 May 1983
Chairman com. ANDROPOV Yu. V.
Present com[rade]s. Aliev G. A., Gorbachev M. S., Grishin V. V., Gromyko A. A., Tikhonov N. A.,
Ustinov D. F., Chernenko K. U., Demichev P. N., Dolgikh V. I., Kuznetsov V. V., Ponomarev B. N.,
Solomentsov M. S., Zimyanin M. V., Kapitonov I. V., Rusakov K. V., Ryzhkov N. I.
In the beginning of the session comrade Andropov expressed words of deep sadness about the
death of comrade Arveed Yanovich Pelshe. Comrade Andropov informed that the funeral of
comrade Pelshe, according to the decision of the CC is going to be held at 11 o’clock on the Red
square by the Kremlin wall. The members of the funeral commission will come to the Dom
Soyuzov at the time of carrying out the body; the rest of the members of Politburo, candidates to
members of Politburo and the secretaries will come at 11 o’clock straight to the Mausoleum.
[ANDROPOV.] Now I would like to address the issue, which in my opinion deserves the exchange
of opinions and suggestions.
Today I’ve talked with a number of members of the Politburo about our government’s
announcement of the response connected with the deployment of American missiles “Pershing-2”
and cruise missiles in the countries of Western Europe; and also concerning the resolution adopted
by the countries of “Big Seven” in Williamsburg. It’s important that we discuss this matter,
exchange opinions, and express the suggestions that should be developed.
If you look at the events that are taking place in the Western countries, you can say that an anti-
soviet coalition is being formed out there. Of course, that’s not accidental, and its highly
dangerous. At the session of the NATO countries, that’s going on in Williamsburg, very aggressive
speeches are given; and the very resolution adopted by the “Big Seven” is non-constructive, but
aggressive.
If you analyze the reaction of the countries of the West on our declaration, then the reaction has
two sides. From one side, our declaration had impressed them very much. There are indications,
seen through some of the speeches of some of the western politicians that give hope to normal and
productive high level talks about the decrease of the arms race and disarmament, especially of the