Аннотация

The Soviet Union’s role in various U.S. attempts in 1966–1967 to resolve the conflict in Southeast Asia by inducing Hanoi’s leaders to negotiate cannot be understood without analyzing Hanoi’s attitude toward negotiations and without exploring Soviet-North Vietnamese diplomatic cooperation. The latter was an integral part of the alliance between the USSR and the DRV during the Vietnam War. Moscow had to prove its reliability not only by delivering economic and military aid to the «fighting people of Vietnam» and by declaring its solidarity with Hanoi, but also by rendering more subtle but no less important services on behalf of its ally through diplomatic channels. In the sphere of Soviet activity, Moscow’s inclination toward a peaceful solution of the conflict seems most evident. This goal permeated almost all steps by the Kremlin in 1966–1967, either on its own initiative or on behalf of North Vietnam. However, both conflicting sides – the U.S. and North Vietnam – were not prepared at that time to agree on concessions that could lead to peaceful negotiations. As a result, Soviet efforts did not bring positive results, while the U.S. initiatives Marigold and Sunflower were unfruitful.