Moscow Peace Treaty — peace treaty signed by Finland and the Soviet Union on 12 March 1940
Ended the 105-day Winter War, compelling Finland to cede border territories to the Soviet Union under terms that remained unreversed after the USSR's dissolution.
Key Facts
- Date signed
- 12 March 1940
- Ratifications exchanged
- 21 March 1940
- Duration of Winter War ended
- 105 days days
- Finnish chief signatory
- Risto Ryti
- Soviet chief signatory
- Vyacheslav Molotov
- Territorial dispute name
- The Karelian question
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The Soviet Union launched the Winter War against Finland in November 1939, seeking to secure border areas near Leningrad and other strategic territories. After 105 days of fighting, both sides faced mounting pressures: Finland struggled against Soviet military strength, while the USSR sought to conclude a costly campaign and consolidate its gains before broader international complications arose.
On 12 March 1940, representatives of Finland and the Soviet Union signed the Moscow Peace Treaty, formally ending the Winter War. The Finnish delegation was led by Risto Ryti and included Paasikivi, Walden, and Voionmaa, while the Soviet side was represented by Molotov, Zhdanov, and Vasilevsky. Finland agreed to cede significant border territories, including parts of Karelia, to the Soviet Union.
Finland was compelled to surrender border regions to the Soviet Union, most notably in Karelia, displacing Finnish populations from those areas. The territorial losses became the subject of an ongoing national debate known as the Karelian question. Notably, the treaty's terms were never reversed following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, leaving the ceded lands permanently under Russian jurisdiction.
Political Outcome
Finland ceded border territories, including parts of Karelia, to the Soviet Union, ending the Winter War. Terms remained in force after the dissolution of the USSR.
Finland held its eastern border territories including Karelia
Soviet Union gained Finnish border areas; Finland lost Karelian territories