[1] World War I and the February Revolution brought hopes that the various minorities in the Russian Empire could attain some freedoms.
The congress was organized by the Ukrainian Central Rada to discuss these political aspirations and better coordinate their efforts.
[4] The Russian Provisional Government was represented by Maksym Slavinsky, member of the Constitutional Democratic Party (Kadets).
[1] Only Lithuanians, represented by nine men, including Augustinas Voldemaras, Antanas Tumėnas, and Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas, demanded full independence.
[4] The congress elected the Council of the Peoples of Russia, chaired by Mykhailo Hrushevsky, and established journal Svobodnyi soiuz (Свободный союз, Free Union).