Initially, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was condemned by Western powers, including France and the United Kingdom, who saw it as a betrayal of Czechoslovakia and a sign of Nazi Germany's aggressive intentions. However, the Soviet Union portrayed the pact as a defensive measure to protect its interests in the face of growing German power and Western appeasement.
1941:
The world's reaction to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact changed dramatically after Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, effectively breaking the non-aggression pact. Western powers, which had been wary of the Soviet Union, now saw the country as a potential ally against Nazi Germany. The United States, in particular, began providing significant aid to the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease Act to support its war effort.
As a result, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, which had been initially met with condemnation, came to be seen in a different light. It was now viewed as a temporary arrangement between two rival powers, made necessary by geopolitical circumstances, and its negative connotations began to fade.