ABSTRACT
The Anglo-Russian rapprochement, in combination with the French alliance, made an unfavourable impact on Russia's relations with the Triple Alliance, at times making Russia's European policy too reckless and at times depriving it of flexibility. A. K. Benckendorff misinterpreted the consequences for Russia of the developments of 1907-14 partly because he saw Russia's position through the eyes of Cambon and Grey, and partly because he had always ignored all but the great powers relations. Sazonov instructed Russian ambassadors in European capitals to continue negotiations with Austria-Hungary, even if the latter opened hostilities, thereby precluding the communication between him and the Austrian ambassador. Russia's Balkan initiatives left her in a precarious position: the 1912-13 Balkan wars demonstrated that St Petersburg could not stop the Balkan states from going to war. After the Austro-Hungarian ultimatum to Serbia was sent to all the powers on 24 July, Buchanan told Sazonov that Britain was not directly involved in Serbia and therefore would not intervene.
