Russo - Prussian alliance The Russo - Prussian alliance refers to the treaty signed by the Kingdom of Prussia and the Russian Empire on 11 April 1764 . It expanded on the Treaty of Saint Petersburg of 1762 , which ended the fighting in the Seven Years ' War between those two countries . It was a defensive alliance , in which each party declared it would protect the territorial stability of the other . It further allowed both countries to intervene in the Polish – Lithuanian Commonwealth , which was one of the primary intentions of the treaty . Genesis and intention . The treaty was a creation of the Russian diplomat Nikita Ivanovich Panin . It expanded on the Treaty of Saint Petersburg of 1762 , which ended the fighting in the Seven Years ' War between Prussia and Russia . Signed on 11 April 1764 , it laid the foundation for the " northern system " in Russian politics , in which Russia and Prussia were allied with Great Britain . Although the Anglo - Prussian Alliance had waned around that time , the ties between Great Britain and Russia strengthened , with a trade alliance signed in 1766 . The alliance was defensive in nature , each party declaring it would protect the territorial stability of the other . This provided Prussia important security on the international scene by turning its most dangerous enemy into an ally . The alliance was also aimed at counteracting the power of the Austrian , or Hapsburg , Empire . From Russia ' s perspective , Austria had been less willing to compromise on issues related to the expanding Russian sphere of influence , and was thus less attractive as an ally at that time . According to some historians , Russia would become the dominating partner in the alliance , partially fulfilling one of its goals from the Seven Years ' War — increased influence over Prussia . Others have taken the view that the treaty was a skillful victory for Prussia , despite the tendency of Russia to treat Prussia as a junior partner . Shortly before his death , Frederick the Great of Prussia declared that it was the most advantageous treaty he had made . Not insignificantly , the treaty also allowed Prussia and Russia to exercise better control over the Polish – Lithuanian Commonwealth ; both parties agreed they wanted to prevent the election of a third king from the House of Saxony . The two countries thus worked together to ensure the election of their own candidate , Stanisław August Poniatowski , later that year . The 1764 treaty also included a provision allowing the signatories to intervene in Poland in case of an unapproved regime change . In fact , the two powers — together with Austria — would intervene jointly in Poland following the War of the Bar Confederation , resulting in the First Partition of Poland in 1772 . Dissolution and aftermath . However , over the next few decades , Russia ' s attention was increasingly drawn towards the south and the Ottoman Empire . Advocated by Grigory Potemkin , this new direction reduced the strategic value of Prussia as an ally to Russia , and made Austria once again a more appealing candidate . The Russo - Prussian alliance was again extended in 1777 , but at the imperial court in Saint Petersburg the influence of Panin ' s pro - Prussian faction was eclipsed by Potemkin ' s pro - Austrian one . After the death of Maria Theresa of Austria , Joseph II of Austria favored improving relations with Russia , and secret negotiations began in early 1781 , resulting in an Austro - Russian alliance formed around May and June 1781 . The Russo - Prussian alliance existed formally until 1788 , but it lost most of its significance upon the declaration of the Austro - Russian alliance , which isolated Prussia on the international scene . Prussia would hence seek a new alliance with Great Britain . The end of this alliance also marked the downfall of Panin , who once said that his own political survival was tied to this treaty .