Russian Diplomacy in the Struggle for National Interests during World War I

Abstract

Article covers a complex of the most important geopolitical questions facing Russian empire during the first global conflict of 1914-1917, and also the efforts of domestic diplomacy directed on their decision in a favorable course for the country in the conditions of a difficult confrontation of great powers. Relevance of the topic is conditioned by insufficiently deep analysis of the struggle on the diplomatic front of the First World War and superficial idea about the aims and motives of the Russian imperial government in its actions on the world arena in relation to both the enemies from the bloc of the Central Powers and the Entente allies. In the course of the research the author has traced the evolution of Russian foreign policy from the beginning of military operations to the period of revolutionary upheavals, the cause-and-effect relationships of decisions of its leadership in the course of the world conflict, and also gives an objective assessment of the results of this work in achieving the final reunification of its ethnic territories, creation and consolidation around itself of new Slavic states, realization of rights for the "Byzantine heritage".