Примирить непримиримых: непосильная задача русской дипломатии на Балканах в 1914–1915 гг.
To Reconcile the Irreconcilable: the Unachievable Task of the Russian Diplomacy in the Balkans in 1914-1915

Summary/Abstract: The paper reveals the efforts of Russian diplomacy to reconcile Bulgaria and Serbia in the initial stage of WWI. The author examines the evaluations, prognoses, offers and projects made by Russian diplomats for solving the Macedonian question and attracting Bulgaria on the side of the Entente. The accent is put on the period until the summer of 1915 when, taking into consideration the military successes of the Triple Alliance, it was most likely to achieve a settlement of the Macedonian issue which could satisfy Bulgaria and secure its neutrality as a minimum. Records confirm the conclusion that the majority of the Russian diplomats argued for the need of immediate concessions to Bulgaria in Macedonia. However, the willingness of Russian diplomacy to exercise pressure over Serbia met the position of principle of Emperor Nicholas II who was not ready to sacrifice his Serbian ally.

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