Russia agreed to peace terms with Germany during World War I primarily due to the dire situation it faced internally and externally. The key reasons include:
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Military Defeats: By late 1917, the Russian military was experiencing significant defeats on the Eastern Front. The morale of troops was low, and many soldiers were disillusioned with the war.
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Revolution: The February and October Revolutions of 1917 led to significant political upheaval in Russia. The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, gained power with a promise to withdraw from the war and focus on internal issues. The desire for peace was a central tenet of their platform. The phrase "Bread, Land, and Peace" encapsulated their appeals to the war-weary populace.
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Economic Crisis: The war had exacerbated economic hardships in Russia, leading to food shortages, inflation, and industrial collapse. The new Bolshevik government recognized the urgent need to stabilize the economy by ending the war.
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The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk: In March 1918, seeking to consolidate their power and address the immediate needs of the country, Lenin's government negotiated the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany. The treaty formally ended Russia's involvement in World War I but came at a high cost, ceding significant territory to Germany.
In summary, the combination of military failure, revolutionary pressures, internal economic crises, and the new Bolshevik government's priorities drove Russia to seek a peace agreement with Germany.