Back in 80's, on the ground in countries like Poland, everyone understood we are kind of part of Eastern Bloc.

But the economic situation was so dire that reforms were required - and they were not at all directed at the "road to socialism" directed by USSR (and nobody really believed in it anywhere), although they were formally in violation of the die-hard Marxist-Leninist dogmas.

The expectation was that USSR will at least not interfere, because then you'd have to face an actual revolution.