trotsky was the leading advocate of the "neither war nor peace" policy and on 28 january 1918 announced that soviet russia considered the war over. this was unacceptable to the germans who were already transporting troops to the western front. the german chief of staff, general max hoffmann, responded by signing the peace treaty with ukrainian people's republic on 9 february and announced an end to the cease-fire with russia in two-days time on 17 february, leading to the resumption of hostilities.