* The Russian military had suffered catastrophic losses in World War I, and the soldiers morale and willingness to fight was plummeting.
* German military had advanced significantly into Russian territory, occupying vast areas and threatening the capital city of Petrograd (St. Petersburg).
Internal Unrest and Revolution:
* The Bolshevik Party was focused on consolidating power in the wake of the October Revolution, which had brought them to power in November 1917.
* Continuing the war effort against Germany would have risked further internal instability and even the collapse of the Bolshevik government.
Anti-War Sentiment:
* There was widespread war-weariness among the Russian population, and the Bolsheviks believed that making peace with Germany would fulfill the revolutionary promise to end the war.
Support for International Socialist Revolution:
* The Bolsheviks were committed to spreading socialist revolution throughout the world.
* They saw peace with Germany as a steppingstone towards fomenting revolution in other European countries, especially Germany itself.
Economic Pressures:
* The Russian economy was on the brink of collapse, and the government was struggling to sustain the military effort.
* Peace with Germany would allow the Bolsheviks to shift resources towards addressing the economic crisis.