In December 1989, George Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev meet on a ship off the Mediterranean island of Malta. Changes continue to take place in Eastern Europe.
Communist government takes office.
In Romania, riots begin in mid-December in opposition to the Communist regime of Nicolae Ceausescu, and crowds storm the Central Committee building. Ceausescu escapes, but is caught later that day. The Ceausescus are given a sham trial and are executed on Christmas Day. Compare the Velvet Revolution with the events in Romania. In the Soviet Union, the Communist Party is losing control and goods in the shops are scarce.