Soviet Union was unable to sustain Cold War budgets
Continued attrition would see West win.
Needed to end – one way or another.
TimeLine
1985 Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev becomes General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. He is able to delay breakup of Soviet Union / Warsaw Pact an additional year.
Late 1990 (real world 1989 and 1991) popular uprisings in Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania and Bulgaria depose Communist governments.
East Germany remains loyal and continues to host Group of Soviet Forces Germany and other formations.
Late 1990 NATO forces thinned (US VII Corps and UK 1st Armoured Div) and redeploy to counter Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
Early 1991 Gorbachev ousted by his Vice President Gennady Yanayev.
17 January 1991 Operation Desert Storm commences.
25 January 1991 Soviet Forces from Belarus and Ukraine “liberate” peoples of Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania and Bulgaria from “rogue” governments.
February 1991 Soviet Forces in East Germany cross inner German border, forces in Eastern Europe in suitable locations to be second strategic echelon.
Who you are up against ...
PNybllbrrXY
Oh and keep your respirator handy.