A Brief History Of Ukraine (And Why Russia Wants To Control It)

History Hit

21 Mar 202218:29

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe script explores the complex history of Ukraine and Russia, from the Kievan Rus state to the present day, highlighting key events like the Mongol invasion, the Holodomor, World War II, and the 2014 annexation of Crimea. It discusses Ukraine's strategic importance to Russia, the evolution of Ukrainian identity, and the ongoing tensions influenced by geopolitical shifts towards NATO and the EU.

Takeaways

🌾 Relations between Ukraine and Russia have been strained since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
🏰 Ukraine, historically known as the breadbasket of Soviet Russia, has remained politically, militarily, and economically important to Russia.
🗺️ The historical dispute over Ukraine's sovereignty is rooted in a complex regional history spanning over a thousand years.
⚔️ Kiev was the heart of the Kievan Rus state from the 8th to the 11th centuries, central to the history of both Ukraine and Russia.
🚢 Norse traders, known as the Rus, settled around Kiev, merging with local tribes to form the Kievan Rus.
🏙️ Kiev was referred to as the 'mother of Rus cities' by the 12th century, denoting its importance to the Kievan Rus state.
🏹 The Mongol invasion in the 13th century began the breakup of the Kievan Rus states, leading to the rise of the Grand Duchy of Moscow.
📜 In 1654, the Treaty of Pereyaslav saw the Cossacks break with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and align with the Russian Tsar.
🛡️ The Crimean War (1853-1856) saw the Russian Empire lose to a coalition of the Ottoman Empire, France, and the UK, leading to internal reforms in Russia.
🌾 Ukraine, known as the breadbasket of the Soviet Union, suffered the Holodomor famine in the 1930s, a state-sponsored act of genocide by Stalin's government.

Q & A

Why have the relations between Ukraine and Russia been strained since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991?
-The relations have been strained due to historical, political, military, and economic ties. Ukraine, once known as the breadbasket of Soviet Russia, has remained significant to Russia, leading to disputes over its sovereignty.
What is the historical significance of the region around Kiev in the context of Ukraine and Russia's relationship?
-The region around Kiev was central to the Kievan Rus state between the 8th and 11th centuries. It is considered the heart of the early heritage of the Rus people, which includes the ancestors of Russians, Belarusians, and Ukrainians.
How did the Mongol invasion impact the Kievan Rus state?
-The Mongol invasion in 1223 and the subsequent conquest in 1237 led to the breakup of the Kievan Rus and placed the region under the dominion of the Golden Horde, significantly altering the political landscape.
What was the significance of the Treaty of Pereyaslav in 1654 for Ukraine and Russia?
-The Treaty of Pereyaslav in 1654 marked the formal allegiance of the Cossacks to the Russian Tsar, which the USSR later styled as an act that reunified Ukraine with Russia.
How did Crimea become part of Russia?
-Crimea was annexed by Russia in 1783 on the orders of Catherine the Great, after a period of being briefly independent following its time as part of the Ottoman Empire.
What was the Holodomor, and how did it affect the Ukrainian people?
-The Holodomor was a state-sponsored famine in Ukraine created by the Soviet government in the early 1930s, resulting in the deaths of millions of Ukrainians due to starvation.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Historical Roots of Ukraine-Russia Relations

This paragraph delves into the complex history of Ukraine and Russia's relations, tracing back to the Kievan Rus state and the region's importance to Russia. It discusses the significance of Crimea, the impact of the Mongol invasion, and the shifting allegiances of the region through various historical events. The paragraph highlights the cultural and political ties that bind Ukraine to Russia, setting the stage for ongoing tensions.

05:01

🏰 The Struggle for Ukrainian Identity and Sovereignty

The second paragraph explores the emergence of a distinct Ukrainian identity, the suppression of the Ukrainian language, and the political upheavals that have shaped the country's history. It covers the Crimean War, the Holodomor famine, World War II, and the post-Soviet era, including the USSR's transfer of Crimea to Ukraine and the country's struggle for independence and recognition as a sovereign state.

10:01

🌏 Post-Soviet Challenges and the Quest for Independence

This section examines Ukraine's journey post-Soviet collapse, focusing on its transition to independence, the Orange Revolution, and the legal and political ramifications of the Holodomor. It discusses the annexation of Crimea by Russia and the ongoing conflict in the Donbass region, emphasizing the geopolitical and strategic importance of Ukraine to Russia and the West.

15:03

🛑 Current Tensions and the Search for a Sustainable Solution

The final paragraph addresses the ongoing unrest in Ukraine since 2014, the country's efforts to strengthen ties with NATO and the EU, and the implications for Russia's security. It discusses the economic potential of Ukraine as a major food exporter and the historical and strategic significance of the region to Russia. The paragraph concludes by reflecting on the difficulty of finding a long-term solution to the conflict and the importance of avoiding a repeat of past historical crises.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Soviet Union

The Soviet Union, officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), was a socialist state that existed from 1922 to 1991, covering a large part of Eurasia. It played a central role in the script as the political entity that included both Russia and Ukraine for much of the 20th century. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 is a pivotal event that set the stage for the strained relations between Russia and Ukraine, as mentioned in the script.

💡Kievan Rus

The Kievan Rus was a state that existed between the 8th and 11th centuries, centered around modern-day Kiev, Ukraine. It is significant in the script as it represents the early Slavic state that included the ancestors of Russians, Belarusians, and Ukrainians. The Kievan Rus is portrayed as a foundational heritage that has influenced the collective identity and historical ties between these nations.

💡Mongol Horde

The Mongol Horde refers to the collective forces of the Mongol Empire, known for their rapid expansion and conquests during the 13th century. In the script, the Mongol Horde's invasion of the Kievan Rus in 1223 and subsequent conquest in 1237 is a key historical event that led to the fragmentation of the Rus states and the beginning of the end for the Kievan Rus.

💡Grand Duchy of Moscow

The Grand Duchy of Moscow was a principality that later became the center of what is now Russia. It is mentioned in the script as a rising power during the period of the Golden Horde's dominion, eventually becoming the focal point for the Rus people as the Kievan Rus disintegrated and the influence of the Golden Horde waned.

💡Cossacks

Cossacks were semi-nomadic warrior communities, known for their military prowess, who inhabited parts of Eastern Europe, including areas closely linked with Kiev and Ukraine. In the script, the Cossacks' resistance to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and their rebellion in favor of joining Russia under the Grand Princes of Moscow is highlighted as a significant event that shaped the allegiances and political landscape of the region.

💡Treaty of Pereyaslav

The Treaty of Pereyaslav was a pact signed in 1654 between the Cossacks of Ukraine and Tsar Alexis of Russia, marking the formal allegiance of the Cossacks to the Russian Tsar. The script refers to this treaty as a historical act that the USSR later styled as a reunification of Ukraine with Russia, bringing all Rus peoples together.

💡Holodomor

Holodomor refers to a state-sponsored famine in Soviet Ukraine during the 1930s, which was an act of

Highlights

Ukraine and Russia's relations have been strained since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, rooted in a complex history over a thousand years in the making.

Ukraine, historically known as the breadbasket of Soviet Russia, has remained politically, militarily, and economically significant to Russia.

The Kievan Rus state, between the 8th and 11th centuries, was central to the region's history and the origin of the Rus people, including Russians and Ukrainians.

The Mongol invasion in 1223 and subsequent conquest in 1237 led to the breakup of the Rus states and the region's subjugation under the Golden Horde.

The rise of the Grand Duchy of Moscow and its eventual transformation into the heart of modern Russia provided a new focal point for the Rus people.

Cossacks of Ukraine resisted Polish-Lithuanian control, rebelling in favor of joining Russia under the Grand Princes of Moscow.

The Treaty of Pereyaslav in 1654 marked the formal allegiance of the Cossacks to the Russian Tsar, later styled by the USSR as a reunification of Ukraine with Russia.

Crimea's history is intertwined with Russia and Ukraine, with its annexation by Russia in 1783 under Catherine the Great.

The emergence of a distinct Ukrainian identity in the 19th century, linked to the region's Cossack heritage, contrasted with Russian views of Ukrainians as 'Little Russians'.

The Crimean War (1853-1856) between the Russian Empire and a coalition including the Ottoman Empire, France, and the UK, resulted in significant losses and restrictions for Russia.

The Holodomor, a state-sponsored famine in Ukraine under Stalin's government, resulted in the deliberate starvation and deaths of up to four million Ukrainians.

During World War II, Ukraine suffered massive losses, with between five and seven million lives lost and a post-war famine claiming another million.

The USSR's transfer of Crimea to Soviet Ukraine in 1954 set the stage for future territorial disputes.

The Chernobyl disaster in 1986 in Ukraine was a pivotal event contributing to the collapse of the USSR and a loss of faith in the Soviet government.

Ukraine's independence following the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union was marked by a referendum and election, with overwhelming support for independence.

Ukraine's possession of nuclear weapons post-Soviet Union and the Budapest Memorandum's role in their disarmament in exchange for sovereignty recognition.

The Orange Revolution in 2004 highlighted corruption in Ukrainian politics and led to a shift towards closer ties with the West.

The 2014 Revolution of Dignity and Russia's annexation of Crimea marked a significant escalation in tensions between Ukraine and Russia.

Ukraine's 2019 constitutional change to allow closer links with NATO and the EU heightened Russian concerns about Western influence.

Ukraine's agricultural significance, particularly as a major exporter of sunflower oil and corn, has economic implications and attracted international interest.

The complex and intertwined history between Russia and Ukraine, with modern tensions rooted in historical, political, and strategic interests.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

Why did Nikita Khrushchev Give Crimea to Ukraine?

Where did Russia come from? - Alex Gendler

The Animated History of Russia

Putin's History of Ukraine

Putin’s Inaccurate Historical Propaganda : The History of the Russian and Ukrainian Relations

What can the equipment losses tell us about the war between Russia and Ukraine?