I remember and I can't remember where I read it that Soviet high command after the German invasion offered a peace treaty and to give most of Ukraine's land so that the germans would stop advancing. Anyone got any more info on this?
This was mentioned in Anthony Beaver's Stalingrad in which during the height of Barbarossa Stalin was prepared to offer Hitler peace on similar lines as the treaty of Brest-Litvosk signed between the Germany and the Bolshevik government in 1918. Supposedly he had hoped to use the Bulgarian ambassador as an intermediate to open up talks with Germany. However the ambassador refused, citing that even if the Germans were to push the Soviets to the Urals, the Soviets would eventually triumph. Whether Stalin was seriously willing to commit to such a peace offer after discussion is another question.