The Explanation Understanding the long history between Russia and Ukraine
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Apr 16, 2022 Kevin Connolly, a former BBC foreign correspondent with over 30 years of experience, delves into the tumultuous history between Russia and Ukraine. He discusses the shared roots of Kievan Rus and the imperial expansions that tied Ukraine to Russian power. Connolly recounts the significant 1954 transfer of Crimea and Ukraine's journey to independence post-Soviet Union dissolution in 1991. He also explores modern tensions, including Putin's fears of a Western-aligned Ukraine and the implications of the 2014 annexation of Crimea, culminating in the full-scale invasion in 2022.
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Shared Origins In Kievan Rus
- The Kievan Rus created a shared medieval political and cultural space covering modern Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.
- Putin and others draw on this common origin to argue for historic unity between Russians and Ukrainians.
Ukrainian Identity Preceded Statehood
- Ukraine's people and the city of Kiev existed long before a Ukrainian nation state emerged.
- For centuries Ukrainian fate was tied to imperial powers, especially the Russian Empire.
Empires Fell, Ukraine Was Reabsorbed
- Three empires collapsed after World War I, enabling a shift toward nation states across Europe.
- The Bolshevik victory folded Ukraine back into a Russian-centred political order rather than an independent state.