The Soviets Wanted a Peace Treaty With East Germany

The Soviets had long wanted the issue of Berlin resolved on both economic and security grounds. The White House publicly maintained that this summit was not about quote, negotiating or reaching agreement on the major international problems. But privately, JFK had Bobby open up a back channel with a senior Soviet intelligence officer,. One thing Bobby told Bolshikov ahead of these talks in Vienna was that Cuba was a quote, dead issue.