In his tweet, the future ex-prime minister of Britain, Boris Johnson, acknowledges the direction of Russia’s current leadership and says that he admired Gorbachev’s courage and integrity.
The last leader of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachevdeath has begun to gather condolences from world leaders. Russian news agencies reported late on Tuesday that a Moscow hospital announced that Gorbachev died in the evening as a result of a serious and long-term illness.
Secretary General of the UN Antonio Guterres in his statement describes Gorbachev as a unique statesman and says that he “changed the course of history”. According to him, Gorbachev did more than anyone else to bring the Cold War to a peaceful end.
– The world has lost a significant global leader, a committed supporter of multilateralism and a tireless peace advocate, the statement reads.
President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen calls Gorbachev on Twitter a trusted and respected leader who played a key role in ending the Cold War and bringing down the Iron Curtain. According to Von der Leyen, this opened the way for a free Europe, and Gorbachev’s legacy will not be forgotten.
Spokesperson for the Russian administration Dmitry Peskov says the president Vladimir Putin taking part in the death of Gorbachev and sending condolences to his family and friends.
The first Russian leader who lived to be over 90 years old
President of France Emmanuel Macron calls Gorbachev in his tweet a “man of peace” whose choices opened the way to freedom for Russians. Like Guterres, Macron says Gorbachev’s commitment to peace in Europe changed our shared history.
Acting as British Prime Minister for a while Boris Johnson says on Twitter that he is sorry for the sad news. He says he always admired “the courage and integrity he (Gorbachev) showed in bringing the Cold War to a peaceful conclusion.”
In his message, Johnson also acknowledges the current Russian leadership when he says that Gorbachev’s tireless commitment to opening up Soviet society is an example for all of us now that Putin is acting aggressively in Ukraine.
Gorbachev was the first Russian leader to live past the age of 90. On his 90th birthday, he received congratulations from all over the world, including from the President of the United States From Joe Biden and from the former Chancellor of Germany From Angela Merkel.