This is an obvious utopia. Will it not cost too many sacrifices? We will lay down a multitude of our soldiers. It must be thought over and considered ten times.

TO N. N. KRESTINSKY. JUNE 4, 1920

I propose to reply to Stalin: "Your proposal for an offensive on Crimea is so serious that we must inquire and think it over with the utmost caution. Wait for our reply. Lenin. Trotsky"*.

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Written on June 3, 1920

First published in part in 1960 in the book "History of the Civil War in the USSR. 1917-1922", vol. 5

Published in full for the first time