Who was the leader of the Soviet Union during most of the Cold War?

Joseph Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union during most of the Cold War, which spanned from the end of World War II in 1947 until the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991. He held power from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953. Under Stalin's regime, the Soviet Union was characterized by significant political repression, rapid industrialization, and the establishment of a strong military presence which contributed to the binary ideological conflict prominent throughout the Cold War.

Stalin's policies had a profound impact on international relations, especially his role in the expansion of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe and the establishment of satellite states. His aggressive stance toward the West, manifesting in various conflicts and the promotion of communist ideology, set the stage for the Cold War dynamics. After his death, leaders like Nikita Khrushchev came to power, but it was Stalin's actions during his leadership that fundamentally shaped early Cold War tensions.