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The High Contracting Parties,
in an effort to contribute to strengthening peace and security in Europe and the world
convinced that peaceful cooperation among states on the basis of the goals and principles of the Charter of the United Nations corresponds with the ardent desire of nations and the general interests of international peace,
acknowledging the fact that the agreed-upon measures they have previously implemented, in particular the conclusion of the Agreement of September 13, 1955, on the establishment of diplomatic relations, have created favorable conditions for important new steps to further develop and strengthen their mutual relations,
wishing to find expression, in the form of a treaty, to their determination to improve and extend the cooperation between them, including economic relations as well as scientific, technical, and cultural contacts, in the interest of both states,
have concluded the following agreement:

Article 1
The Federal Republic of Germany and the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics regard it as an important objective of their policies to maintain international peace and to achieve détente.
They affirm their endeavor to promote the normalization of the situation in Europe and the development of peaceful relations among all European countries, and in doing so proceed on the basis of the actual situation existing in this region.

Article 2
The Federal Republic of Germany and the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics shall be guided in their mutual relations and in questions of ensuring European and international security by the aims and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations. Accordingly, they shall resolve their disputes by peaceful means only and assume the obligation, in matters affecting security in Europe and international security, as well as in their own mutual relations, to refrain from threat or use of force, in accordance with Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations.

Article 3
In accordance with the aforementioned aims and principles, the Federal Republic of Germany and the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics share the realization that peace in Europe can only be maintained if no one encroaches upon the present borders.
—They oblige themselves to respect unconditionally the territorial integrity of all countries in Europe within their present borders;
—They declare that they have no territorial claims against anyone nor will they assert any such claims in the future;
—They regard, today and in the future, the borders of all countries in Europe as inviolable in the form that they exist on the day of the signing of this treaty, including the Oder-Neisse line, which forms the western border of the People’s Republic of Poland, and the border between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic.

Article 4
This treaty between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics shall not affect any bilateral or multilateral treaties and agreements previously concluded by them.

Article 5
This treaty is subject to ratification and shall enter into force on the day of the exchange of certificates of ratification, which shall take place in Bonn.

Having taken place in Moscow
on August 12, 1970, in two originals, each one in the German and Russian languages, both texts being equally binding.

For the
Federal Republic of Germany
Willy Brandt
Walter Scheel

For the
Union of Socialist Soviet Republics
Alexei N. Kosygin
Andrei A. Gromyko

Letter on German unification

On the occasion of the conclusion of the treaty, the government of the Federal Republic of Germany presented the following letter to the Soviet foreign ministry:

Dear Mr. Minister,
In connection with today’s signing of the treaty between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics, the government of the Federal Republic of Germany has the honor of declaring that this treaty does not stand in contradiction to the political aim of the Federal Republic of Germany to work toward a state of peace in Europe, in which the German people regain their unity in free self-determination.

Please allow me, Mr. Minister, to give you assurance of my most profound respect.

Walter Scheel