While the Spanish Government was discussing a course of action against Portugal, the situation in the Balkan Peninsula, which had been calm for several months, once again descended into chaos.
In mid-to-late February 1878, the Russian Government forced the Ottoman Empire to sign the Treaty of San Stefano, attempting to end the war as quickly as possible to avoid the results being interfered with by the United Kingdom and Austria-Hungary.
The content of this treaty was previously agreed upon by Russian Foreign Secretary Alexander Mikhailovich Gorchakov and Tsar Alexander II, leaving the defeated Ottoman Empire with no options.
According to the treaty signed by both parties, the Ottoman Empire was forced to recognize the complete independence of Montenegro, Serbia, and Romania, and acknowledge the autonomous status of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
