Collusion with a Third Party Behind the People's Back

As soon as political interests changed, Moscow went for a separate peace with its recent enemy – Poland – negotiating behind its Ukrainian ally's back: "The priorities at the negotiations were territorial and financial questions, as well as the terms of the election of the Russian tsar to the Polish throne"^[1] – the fate of the Cossack lands became a bargaining chip in this deal. The negotiations were held at Niemieza near Vilna from August 1656; the armistice was signed on October 24^[1].