San Stefano, Treaty of

San Stefano, Treaty of, treaty signed by Russia and Turkey on March 3, 1878, at the Turkish village of San Stefano (present-day Yeşilköy), which brought to a conclusion the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. By the terms of the treaty the independence of Serbia, Montenegro, Romania, and Bulgaria was recognized, and Russia obtained the right to occupy Bulgaria for two years. In addition, Turkey was to surrender the Ardahan, Kars, Batum, and Bayazid areas to Russia and pay a large indemnity. These territorial gains by Russia caused alarm to other nations, and a congress was called at which the Treaty of San Stefano was replaced by a more moderate treaty, signed on July 13, 1878 at the Congress of Berlin.