Ramba uchinyora ndima iyi - Muna January 1961, mutungamiriri weSoviet Nikita Khrushchev akazivisa kutsigira kwake hondo dzorusununguko rwenyika. Kennedy akanzwisisa danho iri setyisidziro yakananga ku"nyika yakasununguka". Musi waFebruary 15, 1961, purezidhendi akakumbira maSoviet kuti arege kupindira mukuita kuti Sangano Romubatanidzwa Wenyika Dzapasi Pose rinyarare muCongo Crisis
. Khrushchev akakarakadza kuchinja United Nations Charter nokutsiva chinzvimbo cheMunyori Mukuru nevatatu vanoita basa vanonzi Troyka (Russian: "boka revatatu"). Musi waSeptember 25, 1961, Kennedy akataura kuUnited Nations General Assembly, achiratidza kuzvipira kwake kupokana nehurongwa hweTroyka. Musi waFebruary 27 wegore iroro, mutsamba yake kuna Khrushchev, Mutungamiriri wenyika akakumbira musangano wokumusoro nokukurumidza. Khrushchev akabvuma kusangana muguta guru reAustria Vienna. Musangano wepamusoro weVienna wakatevera wakasvibiswa nechiitiko cheBay of Pigs Invasion. Khrushchev, zvisinei, aida kupa mutoro wokupinda nechisimba kwete kuna Kennedy, asi kuvatevedzeri vake.