The Soviet assault was originally scheduled to begin at 04:00 on August 14. However, on August 13, the Ukrainian-German Common Defense Pact was signed as an annex to the Austro-Ukrainian Military Alliance. In this accord, Germany committed itself to the defence of Ukraine, guaranteeing to preserve Ukrainian independence. At the same time, the Germans and the Ukrainians were hinting to Moscow that they were willing to resume discussions — not at all how Stalin hoped to frame the conflict. Thus, he wavered and postponed his attack until August 24, managing to in effect halt the entire invasion "in mid-leap".