It all started in Kyiv. In the 9th century, the medieval state – Rus’ – was formed with its center in Kyiv. Over the next several centuries, the entire territory where the authority of the Kiev princes was recognized was called Russia in a broad sense. But in a narrow sense, the lands of the middle Dnieper around Kyiv were known as Russia. The lands in the northeast, where the Moscow principality was later formed, were called Zalissyam in those days. Russia’s imperial ambitions appeared much later. Ukraine should not suffer because of the sick fantasy of its neighbors.
Ukraine and Russia developed under different historical conditions and were influenced by different neighbors. The origins of all Ukrainian, Russian, Belarusian and, to a large extent, Lithuanian peoples are in medieval Russia. However, their formation in subsequent centuries took place under different historical conditions. This determined significant cultural, political, worldview differences, as well as individual languages, in particular Ukrainian and Russian.
Ukraine is a country of democratic traditions. After the Mongol invasion in the 13th century, the historical destinies of the territories of modern Ukraine and Russia finally diverged. Ukrainian terrain continued to develop in the European context. Democracy, self-government and European law, religious tolerance, respect for private property. This determined the political culture of the residents. Most of these signs were preserved in the Cossack state – Hetmanship. The northeastern lands of the former Rus became part of the Mongol Golden Horde. Horde orders and traditions with the exaltation of the ruler and complete obedience to him, the absolute dominance of the state, the absence of private ownership of land and communal orders had a decisive influence on the formation of the political culture of the Moscow principality.
Ukraine is not a “younger brother”. Communist propaganda created clear templates for examining the history of Ukraine. First of all, it was supposed to be an appendage of Russian history. Historical events in Ukraine were supposed to duplicate Russian processes. At the same time, be less large-scale, secondary. But this propaganda had nothing to do with reality.
Ukraine is a European country. Russian propaganda emphasizes the friendship of peoples, joint struggle, the enemy that prevents Ukraine and Russia from being together. But there is no enemy. Ukrainians have a clear choice – to be in the European Union.
Ukrainian culture is unique and self-sufficient. In the templates of Russian propaganda, the most important thing in the activity of Ukrainian artists was their friendship with Russian masters and reference to Russian models. Everything that did not fit into these patterns was either marginalized or outright discredited. But Ukrainians are also free in their creative choices and have never supported the ideology of the “Russian world”.
Myths about “fraternal nations” or “one nation” are completely artificial. The concept of “fraternal nations” is a sick creation of Soviet propaganda to replace the Russian imperial concept of a “triune nation”. This is an attempt to forcibly tie Ukrainian history to Russian history and deny the right of Ukrainians and Belarusians to their own historical choice. After Euromaidan, it completely lost its meaning. Nowadays, in order to justify and justify the aggression against the Ukrainian people, the Kremlin’s propaganda has started talking about the “one nation”. They also weave in the defense of Orthodoxy. After all, Russia recognizes only the Moscow Patriarchate. You and I are not a single people, and we never were.
Ukraine does not depend on Russia, no matter how much Russia would like it. Ukrainians quickly began to throw off the yoke of energy dependence. Russia could not chain us to gas pipes. The annexation of Crimea and the events in the east of Ukraine also significantly reduced the level of good attitude towards Russia. Russian propagandists have known for a long time that bridges between states are burning. So they constantly invented myths about why we should “be together” as a “younger brother”. But Ukraine is independent!
Ukrainians are a modern political nation. Putin’s propagandists have no idea that Ukrainians do not live in Russia of the 19th century, but in Europe of the 21st. Ukraine regained its independence in 1991. Restoration of a civil nation with a Ukrainian ethno-cultural and linguistic core.
