French President Raymond Poincaré on an official state visit to Russia to reinforce the Franco-Russian Alliance in July 1914. On July 20, Raymond Poincaré arrives in St. Petersburg by ship, accompanied by Premier René Viviani. Raymond Poincaré disembarks from the ship. Raymond Poincaré walks together with Russian Tsar Nicholas II. Russian honor guards welcome President Poincaré. Raymond Poincaré takes an open horse-drawn carriage. President Raymond Poincaré watches a military procession with Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna. Russian soldiers marching. A car arrives to pick up President Raymond Poincaré.
Crowds of Russians near the Alexander Column of the Palace Square outside the Winter Palace (Palace Embankment, 32, St Petersburg, Russia, 190000) in Saint Petersburg showing their support for Serbia against Austro-Hungarian aggression. This was during the July Crisis of 1914. Crowds holding signs and Russian flags, bearing the Pan-Slavic colors, showing solidarity with Serbia, a Slavic country like Russia. Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna come out to the balcony to watch the cheering crowds.