Russia soon withdraws its troops from the…

Russia soon withdraws its troops from the Danubian principalities, which are now occupied by Austria for the duration of the war.

This removes the original grounds for war, but the UK and France continue with hostilities.

Determined to address the Eastern Question by putting an end to the Russian threat to the Ottoman Empire, the allies in August 1854 propose the "Four Points" for ending the conflict, in addition to the Russian withdrawal:

• Russia is to give up its protectorate over the Danubian Principalities;
• The Danube is to be opened up to foreign commerce;
• The Straits Convention of 1841, which allows only Ottoman and Russian warships in the Black Sea, is to be revised;
• Russia is to abandon any claim granting it the right to interfere in Ottoman affairs on behalf of Orthodox Christians.

These points (particularly the third) will require clarification through negotiation, but Russia refuses to negotiate.

The allies including Austria therefore agree that Britain and France should take further military action to prevent further Russian aggression against the Ottoman Empire.

Britain and France agree n the invasion of the Crimean peninsula as the first step.