Who was primarily responsible for the cold war?

The question of whether the USSR was solely responsible for starting the Cold War is complex and multifaceted. Initially, many historians believed the Soviet Union was to blame, primarily due to their actions in Eastern Europe post-World War II. The USSR was seen as forcefully imposing communism in liberated countries, a move that greatly antagonised Western powers. During the Yalta Conference in February 1945, attended by the Soviet Union, Britain, and America, it was agreed that liberated nations would have free and fair elections to choose their governments. However, the Soviet Union violated this agreement, rigging elections in Poland and other nations to establish communist regimes. This was perceived by the West as an aggressive expansion strategy and an attempt by the USSR to create buffer zones against Western influence, escalating tensions in Europe. The Berlin Blockade by the USSR in April 1948 further strained relations, as it cut off Western access to their sectors of Berlin, leading to a humanitarian crisis and necessitating the Berlin Airlift by Western powers. However, actions by the United States also contributed to the onset of the Cold War. The development and use of the atomic bomb at the end of World War II were viewed as a significant threat by the Soviet Union, especially since the US did not inform the USSR about this development. The dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, although targeted at Japan, was seen as a display of American power and a potential threat to the Soviet Union. Additionally, the Marshall Plan, initiated by the US to aid the struggling economies of Europe post-war, was interpreted by the USSR as an American strategy to dominate European economies and spread its influence, prompting the Soviet Union to discourage communist countries from accepting this aid. In conclusion, while the USSR's actions in Eastern Europe and the Berlin Blockade were significant factors, the Cold War's onset was also influenced by American policies and actions. The situation was a result of mutual suspicion and actions taken by both the USSR and the US in the complex post-war geopolitical landscape.