Peace Treaty of Brest-Litovsk between the UPR and the Central Powers: Political Aspects of the Negotiation Process (December 1917 – November 1918)

Abstract

The article covers the political aspects of peace negotiations and the conclusion of the Peace Treaty between the UPR and Central Powers in Brest. The stances and actions of the Ukrainian delegation and the proposals of the German and Austro-Hungarian representatives, as well as Kyiv, Berlin, and Vienna officials are indicated. Diplomatic confrontation between the Ukrainian delegates and representatives of German and Bolshevik delegations is outlined. The position of the UPR delegation on the formation of armed units from Ukrainian prisoners of war in Germany and Austria-Hungary is discussed, as well as its opinion on changing the approach towards the course of negotiations. The article indicates the circumstances and reasons for concluding both the treaty itself and the secret protocol to it. The details of the loss of the Ukrainian copy of the secret protocol to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk are clarified. The role of the Head of the Ukrainian delegation O. Sevriuk in the negotiations is noted. Changes in the parties’ positions regarding the invitations of German and Austro-Hungarian troops to Ukraine are conditioned. The rationale for the actions of the UPR delegation in its reporting to the Ukrainian Central Council is elucidated. It is revealed that de facto new Ukrainian-German diplomatic relations began in December 1917 and were then of a “separative” nature, and de jure were legalized on February 9, 1918 by the Peace Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. This treaty became the first peace agreement of World War I, while Germany and its allies (Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey) recognized the Ukrainian People’s Republic as a sovereign state.