What Russian leader significantly altered political, diplomatic, and economic policies in the Soviet Union after 1985? AP World History Chapter 36 What Russian leader significantly altered political, diplomatic, and economic policies in the Soviet Union after 1985? a. Yuri Andropov b. Yuri Gagarin c. Nikita Khrushchev d. Mikhail Gorbachev e. Leonid Brezhnev Answer: D Learn More : Share this Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterPlus on Google+