In 1919, several attempts at peace negotiations had been made by various factions, but to no avail. The first attempt at Polish-Soviet negotiations took place in Białowieża from June–August 1919. None of these was successful, and the war raged on. With White Russian general Denikin unwilling to guarantee Polish independence, Polish negotiators initiated another round of negotiations with the Bolsheviks, from October until December 1919 in Moscow and Mikaszewicze (in Polesie). While the negotiations slightly slowed down the pace of conflict between Poles and Bolsheviks, this mostly allowed Bolsheviks to concentrate bulk of their forces on destroying Denikin's army advancing towards Moscow. The negotiations in early 1920 would be considered a token effort by both sides, which were preparing for a major offensive.