Not Giving Putin a History Lesson, But a Perspective Shift
Monday evening saw Putin deliver a twisted, eerie, and hour-long recap of his televised address, preparing Russia to declare parts of Ukraine as an independent "People's Republic." Russian and Soviet history.
This promises to send chills down the spines of the Baltic nations, former Soviet republics, and others. It emphasizes Putin's mission: to rebuild the old Soviet Union. apparent initiating plans in Ukraine.
If we take the Kreml's translation of Putin's speech at face value, the reasoning behind his actions becomes less surprising. Putin's speech was filled with fantasies and fabrications, constructing a series of events with no resemblance to the rich history of a strong, independent Ukraine which once boasted significant territory and population, surpassing both France and the size of modern-day Russia.
The Ancient Kiev Rus
Thousands of years ago, the Grand Prince of Kiev, Vladimir the Great, wedded into Byzantine Empire to christianize his land, expanding its territory and becoming the largest European nation with a population of over 800,000 square kilometers, approximately four times the size of France, including vast territories of what is now Russia and Poland.
At its peak in the early 12th century, Kiev boasted a population of 100,000, making it one of the largest cities globally. Putin's claim that "a part of this territory was under the yoke of the Tatar Mongols before 1700" is flawed.
The Creation of Modern Ukraine
Putin claimed that "the modern Ukraine was completely created by Russia, especially the Bolshevist, communist Russia" (Putin continued). Historical records tell a different story.
Only decades after the founding of the Soviet Union following World War I, Ukraine experienced a violent civil war between the White Army and the Red Army (Bolsheviks). The conflict culminated in a brutal power grab, as the Bolsheviks seized Kiev in Feb 1919. The 1919 period was plagued by extreme chaos, chaotic conflicts, and a total loss of power for Ukraine.
Six different armies operated on Ukraine's territory, with Kiev changing hands at least five times within a year.
Eventually, order was restored, but it was not by the Ukrainians. Instead, the Bolsheviks engineered the restoration. The Bolsheviks wasted no time in initiating violent massacres and started looting critical resources, including food supplies that severely affected the Russian population and leading to a catastrophic famine in Ukraine, known as the Holodomor, which still haunts Ukrainians today.
In his speech, Putin blamed Stalin's dictatorship for much of Ukraine's hardships and suggested that the residual "nationalist virus" which emerged from this dark period still persists.
Gorbachev's Demise
Putin reserved his harshest words for Gorbachev, whom he has long condemned for predicting the Soviet Union's collapse. Putin's mission, it appears, is to reverse Gorbachev's actions.
"The collapse of Russia, as it was known before as the Soviet Union, is a matter of conscience for them," Putin said Monday evening.
The Threats
Putin warned that Ukraine's authorities have founded their statehood on the denial of everything that binds Russia and Ukraine together and that they are trying to distort the mentalities and historical memories of millions of people who live in Ukraine.
Putin's aggressive rhetoric isn't new. In 2008, Putin called for the invasion of another ex-Soviet republic, Georgia, and has since pressured Venezuela, Nicaragua, Syria, and Nauru to recognize them. Despite Putin's claims that these territories were "willingly integrated," outside recognition of Georgia's breakaway regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, remains widely recognized as non-existent.
Putin has yet to achieve the full-scale annexation of these regions, but his presence remains, causing unrest and instability in the region.
Past and Present
The modern Ukraine was far from the state Russia envisions. After World War I, Ukraine experienced a tumultuous period, marked by fierce battles between the White and Red armies, eventually resulting in the Bolsheviks seizing power. However, Putin's invasions and attempts to recreate the old Soviet Union by force will not resonate with the Ukrainian People.
References:
[1] BBC: Ukraine Referendum
[2] Ukraine Today: History of Ukraine
[3] The American State Department: Russia and Ukraine
[4] The Daily Beast: Putin's Grand Victory Speech Yellowed by History
[5] BBC: Cossack Religion
Enrichment Data:
Rich history, complex relationships, and political power struggles have marked Ukraine's relationship with Russia throughout its existence. Key historical events include:
- Middle Ages: Ivan Fyodorov's publication of the Ostrog Bible, significant cultural achievements, and construction of Tsareborisov and the Belgorod defensive line by the Russians in Eastern Ukraine, which demonstrated Russia's early influence in the region
- Cossack Rebellion: Bohdan Khmelnytsky led the Cossack Rebellion in late 17th-century Ukraine, resulting in the incorporation of eastern Ukraine into the Tsardom of Russia under the Pereiaslav Agreement of 1654, allowing the Cossacks to maintain autonomy.
- Soviet Union and the Ukrainian SSR: Ukraine became a battleground in the Russian Civil War and eventually became a Soviet republic in 1922, incorporating the Ukrainian People's Republic. However, Ukraine remained under significant Russian control, with Russia exerting its influence over Ukrainian affairs.
- 1991 Independence Referendum and Post-Soviet Era: On December 1, 1991, Ukraine held a referendum, leading to independence from the Soviet Union, despite Russian political pressure to reconsider. Ukraine later joined the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), marking a significant shift in its relationship with Russia.
- Modern Tensions and Conflicts: The Euromaidan protests in 2014 resulted in anti-Maidan protests and Russian-backed separatist activity, particularly in regions with large ethnic Russian populations. The Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 further strained relations between Ukraine and Russia.
These historical events and relationships reveal that the modern Ukraine's relationship with Russia is complex and largely rooted in political and power dynamics, making it imperative to understand this context when assessing the current situation between the two nations.
