The Russians were going to fight either way, but let’s say a bit more benign leader, like say, Khrushchev took the reins, how different would things have turned out, even if the Soviets won?
It should have been different for sure though we have to admit no one knows how exactly.
Khruschev wasn’t actually that nice person (mind Cuba, Berlin Wall etc).
On the other hand he wasn’t a blood thirsty paranoid too.