«Russian problem» in international relations after the First world war

The First World War caused significant geopolitical changes in the world. In a number of countries - Russia, Germany, Hungary, Austria, Finland, Slovakia - there were revolutions. In Russia, revolutionary changes led to the establishment of a new socio-political system, which marked the beginning of the formation of world bipolarity, the political, socio-economic confrontation between the two systems. In this regard, after the war, in the international relations a “Russian problem” arose, which became almost the only one that united the positions of the countries- winners. This was a question of recognition or non-recognition of the Bolshevik authorities, which was supplemented by the problem of tsarists debts. The aim of the publication is to analyze the influence of the Russian problem on international relations after the First World War, to show the attempts to solve it and its consequences. The development of events from November 11, 1918, when the Bolsheviks broke the Brest-Litovsk treaty, is analyzed. It was at that time that the Allies and the United States hesitated with further actions: to enter the negotiations with the Bolsheviks; to begin armed struggle and to support whiteness; introduce a blockade and establish a so-called “sanitary border”. At first, they resorted to armed struggle. But this situation changed when the Bolsheviks in November- December again captured Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic states and inflicted devastating blows on Siberia Czechs and O. Kolchak's troops. Much attention is paid to attempts at a peaceful settlement of the conflict, such as meeting in the Prince's islands, the Bullight mission, etc. Attention is also drawn to the process of defining the Soviet borders in Europe and the beginning of the diplomatic recognition of Russia (the USSR). It is emphasized that the obstacle to the further development of economic relations with the leading Western countries was the problem of paying Russia all pre-war and military debts. This issue should have been resolved at the Genoa Conference, which suffered a complete defeat. It is concluded that the establishment of international economic relations in the conditions of the stabilization processes of the Western world urgently required the inclusion in Russia of their diverse natural resources in their orbit and rich. Business circles in Western countries have been increasingly advocating a revision of the policy of Bolshevik Russia.