After Germany announced its decision to mediate the conflict in a position of absolute neutrality, Russia effectively lost its initiative.

The current situation is Russia against two, one of which is the world’s most powerful nation, the British Empire.

In such circumstances, even though Russia has gained control over the countries of the Balkan Peninsula, it still has to re-enter negotiations with the United Kingdom and Austria-Hungary.

In late March 1878, at the invitation of Germany, the British Empire, Austria-Hungary, and Russia convened a meeting in Berlin with the aim to resolve the competition and conflicts among the countries of the Balkan Peninsula.

As the most powerful nation today, the British diplomatic representative sternly denounced the treaty signed by Russia at the beginning of the meeting and asserted that the British Empire would absolutely not accept such a treaty.

The British representative demanded a redivision of the situation in the Balkan Peninsula, ensuring the Bosphorus Strait remained under Ottoman Empire control.

For this, the British provided their reasons. Since the Ottoman Empire has not lost Constantinople, the Bosphorus Strait should theoretically belong to the Ottoman Empire’s internal waters.

As it’s Ottoman Empire’s internal waters, Russia would naturally not have any right to freely pass through the strait.

Austria-Hungary also presented its demands, wanting to annex Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Serbia, and to change Russia’s proposal of Great Bulgaria to Little Bulgaria to prevent Russia’s rapid influence in the Balkan Peninsula.

Upon hearing the demands of the United Kingdom and Austria-Hungary, Russia’s Foreign Secretary, Alexander Mikhailovich Gorchakov, immediately wore a grim expression.

If the plan proposed by the United Kingdom and Austria-Hungary were executed, then what was Russia’s purpose in waging this war?

After painstaking efforts to wage a war, the benefits were all taken by the United Kingdom and Austria-Hungary. Was Russia merely trying to control a small Romania?

Although Russia appeared somewhat powerless under the pressure of the British Empire and Austria-Hungary, as Russia’s Foreign Secretary, Alexander Mikhailovich Gorchakov knew he could not voluntarily retreat.

If he even entertained the thought of retreat, the United Kingdom and Austria-Hungary would undoubtedly make even more excessive proposals. For Russia’s interests, he needed to display a sufficiently tough attitude at this diplomatic meeting, at least to make the United Kingdom and Austria-Hungary understand that Russia was definitely not a lamb to be slaughtered at their whim.

"Gentlemen, your proposals are absolutely unacceptable to us. The Saint Stephen Treaty is an armistice agreement between our country and the Ottoman Empire, and all contents of the treaty are compensations made by the Ottoman Empire after its defeat, without any unreasonable clause." Russian Foreign Secretary Alexander Mikhailovich Gorchakov couldn’t help but stand up to counter.

If he remained silent any longer, who could guarantee that the British and Austrian diplomatic representatives across from him wouldn’t come up with even more ridiculous demands?

"Reasonable war compensation?" The British diplomatic representative chuckled disdainfully and said, "Was your country not the one to initiate the war without any reason, expecting the Ottoman Empire to bear the cost of defeat? Is this not the behavior of a bully?

The war deprived hundreds of thousands of Ottoman civilians of their lives, already serving as the most significant punishment for the Ottoman Empire.

I believe the Ottoman Empire was faultless in this war, and the Saint Stephen Treaty needs to be revised; otherwise, our country cannot acknowledge its legality."

Owing to the strength of the British Empire, the British diplomatic representative spoke with great confidence. Even though he faced Russia’s Foreign Secretary, Alexander Mikhailovich Gorchakov, highly trusted by Tsar Alexander II, he showed no fear.

The diplomatic representative of Austria-Hungary nodded as well, supporting, "Your country not only unjustifiably initiated the war, but also completely disregarded the pre-war agreement between our two countries.

For such a breach of promise, our 38 million citizens and His Majesty Emperor Franz Joseph harbor great resentment.

Like the United Kingdom, we do not acknowledge the legality of the Saint Stephen Treaty and demand that it be jointly revised under all our witness to ensure that the interests of all nations and ethnicities involved in the treaty are safeguarded.

Alexander Mikhailovich Gorchakov never anticipated that despite his tough stance, the British and Austrian representatives would be even more uncompromising.

To ensure that Russia submits willingly, both the British and Austrian representatives soon expressed their pro-war positions.

The British representative indicated that if Russia refused to amend the Saint Stephen Treaty, then the next meeting between England and Russia would be on the war negotiation table.

Austria-Hungary stated that troops around Hungary had already begun mobilizing. If Russia didn’t choose to concede in this conflict, Austria-Hungary would actively declare war on Russia.

Confronted with what was nearly an outright war threat from the two nations, Russia’s Foreign Secretary Alexander Mikhailovich Gorchakov hesitated in the end.

If faced with either the United Kingdom or Austria-Hungary alone, Russia wouldn’t fear their war threats.