For the Ukrainian side, the negotiations with the RSFSR were dictated by the need to solve the problems that arose as a result of the collapse of the Russian state and Ukraine's self-determination.
For the Russian side, they were a forced measure, to which it was obliged by the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk of March 3, 1918 between the RSFSR and the states of the Quadruple Alliance (1915–1918).
From the Ukrainian side, the following also participated in the negotiations: I. Kistyakivskyi, O. Slyvinskyi, O. Eichelman, H. Baranovskyi, A. Svitsyn, P. Linnychenko, O. Shulgin, V. Bronskyi, G. Lerhe, S. Gutnyk, Ye.
Russian missions were opened in Ukraine: consulates-general in Kiev, Kharkov, Odessa and consular agencies in Kamianets-Podilskyi, Chernigov, Zhytomyr, and Poltava.
Deliberately slowing down the progress of the negotiations, the Russian delegation expressed disagreement with the Ukrainian border project, considering it offensive and expansive towards Russia.
A number of issues were considered at the negotiations, including economic, trade, financial and settlement, division of debts and property of the former Russian Empire.