Definition

Proper noun: * Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov: A Soviet statesman and diplomat who was a leading figure in the Soviet government from the 1920s to the 1950s. He served as Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars (equivalent to Prime Minister) and later as Minister of Foreign Affairs. He is historically significant for his role in negotiating the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with Nazi Germany in 1939 and for his staunch defense of Soviet policies during the early Cold War.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov was a key ally of Joseph Stalin.
  • The foreign policy of Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov was characterized by a hardline approach towards the West.
  • Historians often study the speeches of Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov.

Advanced Usage

• The term "Molotov" is often used alone as a shortened reference to the statesman.
  • Molotov signed the non-aggression pact on behalf of the Soviet Union.
• His name is etymologically linked to the "Molotov cocktail", an improvised incendiary weapon. The name was coined as a derogatory term by Finnish soldiers during the Winter War (1939-1940), sarcastically referencing Molotov's propaganda about Soviet air raids delivering "food baskets" to the Finnish people.
  • The protesters were armed with Molotov cocktails.

Variants and Related Words

• Molotov (n): The common shortened form of his surname.
• Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (n): The common name for the 1939 non-aggression treaty between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, formally named the Treaty of Non-aggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
• Molotov cocktail (n): An informal term for a hand-thrown incendiary device.

Synonyms

• Soviet diplomat
• Stalinist official
• Foreign Commissar (a title he held)

Related Phrases

• To take a Molotov line: (Historical/figurative) To adopt an uncompromising, hardline stance in diplomacy or negotiation, reminiscent of his policies.
  • The negotiator took a Molotov line, refusing to concede any points.

Noun

1. Soviet statesman (1890-1986)