Antoine Fonton. Initially Russia refused to modify the peace terms to give the Ottomans any benefit. They had wanted to gain more land in the Balkans and Caucasus than the Ottomans were willing to give and wanted control of many Turkish ports and fortresses along the Black Sea and Danube River This is when British plenipotentiary, Stratford Canning came to Constantinople to help move the process along. Canning recommended to Russia to be more moderate in their demands of European and Asiatic territories, because if the Ottomans were pushed too far, they may turn to France for an ally. The French, however, were attempting to prevent the settlement from being reached. In early May the Russians modified their end of the demands on the advice of Canning, to make progress on the treaty. Eventually the treaty was signed by both parties in Manuc’s Inn, Bucharest on May 28, 1812 and ratified on 5 July 1812. Terms Under its terms, the Budjak and the eastern half of the Principality of Moldavia, between Prut and Dniester Rivers, with an area of (Bessarabia), was ceded by the Ottoman Empire (to which Moldavia was a vassal) to Russia. Also, Russia obtained trading rights on the Danube. In Transcaucasia, the Ottomans renounced their claims to most of western Georgia by accepting the Russian annexation of the Kingdom of Imereti, in 1810. In return they retained control of Akhalkalaki, Poti, and Anapa previously captured by the Russo-Georgian troops in the course of the war Furthermore a truce was signed (Article 8 of the Treaty) with the rebelling Serbs and autonomy given to Serbia. The Treaty of Bucharest, signed by the Russian commander Mikhail Kutuzov, was ratified by Alexander I of Russia 13 days before Napoleon's invasion of Russia. Legacy In 17 April 2011, Action 2012, a coalition of organizations supporting unification between Moldova and Romania, was founded. This coalition is named after the year 2012, which marked the 200th anniversary of the Treaty of Bucharest. See also Bessarabian question References Sources Ismail, F. "The making of the treaty of Bucharest, 1811-1812," Middle Eastern Studies (1979) 15#2 pp 163-192 online. Peace treaties of Russia Bessarabia Governorate History of Bessarabia History of Moldavia History of Moldova History of Romania 19th century in Georgia (country) 19th century in the Russian Empire 1812 in the Russian Empire History of Bucharest Bucharest Russo-Turkish wars 1812 in the Ottoman Empire First Serbian