Pol science PSDA
PART 1
1. UKRAINE AT PRESENT
Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe by area and was home
to over 40 million people. The national languages are Ukrainian which is
the first language of about two-thirds of Ukrainians and also Russian
which is the first language of about 30 percent of Ukrainians .
2. HISTORY OF UKRAINE AND RUSSIA
Both Russia, Ukraine and Belarus claim their heritage from Kievan
Rus' (Kyivan Rus'),which laid its foundation in the ninth to eleventh
centuries. According to old Rus chronicles, Kyiv (Kiev), the capital of
modern Ukraine, was proclaimed the Mother of Rus Cities, as it was the
capital of the powerful late medieval state of Rus.
After the Mongol invasion, the paths of Russia and Ukraine
diverged:
• Russia: The northern territories formed the Grand Duchy of
Moscow, which eventually became the Russian state.
• Ukraine: The western territories fell under the control of Lithuania
and then Poland. The Ukrainian Cossacks resisted Polish rule and
sought alliance with culturally similar Russia.
Ukraine under Russian rule:
• Over time, the Russian Empire absorbed most of Ukraine.
• Ukrainian autonomy was gradually stripped away, and the
Cossack force was disbanded.
• The Tsars viewed Ukrainians as "Little Russians" and tried to
assimilate them through Russification policies, banning the
Ukrainian language and promoting Russian culture.
Ukrainian identity persisted:
• While facing suppression, a sense of Ukrainian identity remained strong, even
if only a small group actively opposed Russification before WWI.
3. UKRAINE AND RUSSIA IN 20TH CENTURY
• Ukrainian history and cultural identity have a very long
lineage, but its history as a nation-state truly begins, like
many countries, in World War One. A Ukrainian governing body,
the Central Rada, established official ties with the new Russian
government. In 1918, Ukraine briefly gained independence as the
Ukrainian People's Republic. Soviet Russia was forced to
recognize Ukrainian independence in March 1918 by signing the
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, a consequence of the armistice between
Russia and the Central Powers. However, the existence of this
new country was constantly contested from 1917 to 1921. This
only paused the Ukrainian-Soviet War, which reignited in late
1918.
A war did exist between the Ukrainian People's Republic and the
Bolsheviks, who were just coming to power in Russia. In January
1919, just after the end of World War One, the Bolsheviks launched a
full-scale invasion of Ukraine. They eventually defeated the Ukrainian
People's Republic, along with other factions.
Separate peace treaties between Ukraine, Russia, and the Central
Powers (Germany and Austria-Hungary) ended the immediate conflict,
paving the way for peace negotiations. With the defeat of the Ukrainian
People's Republic in 1921, most of its territory was incorporated into the
Soviet Socialist Republic. Wars are complex affairs, and in 1922,
Ukraine and Russia were two of the founding members of the Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics, and were the signatories of the treaty that
terminated the union in December 1991.
The end of the Russian Empire also ended the ban on the Ukrainian
language.[16] This was followed by a period of Korenizatsiya that
promoted the cultures of the different Soviet Republics
4. IMPORTANT TIMELINE FROM 9TH CENTURY TO
1921
9th-13th Centuries:
• 882: Kievan Rus is founded. It lays the foundation for the cultural
and religious identity of both Russia and Ukraine.
• 1240: The Mongol invasion shatters Kievan Rus'.
14th-16th Centuries:
• 14th Centuries: The territory of Ukraine falls under the rule of
various powers, including Poland and Lithuania, while Russia
emerges as a powerful state in the north.
• 15th Century: The rise of the Zaporozhian Cossacks, a Ukrainian
military group with a distinct cultural identity.
17th Century:
• 1648-1654: The Khmelnytsky Uprising: Ukrainian Cossacks rebel
against Polish rule.
• 1654: Treaty of Pereiaslav: The Cossacks seek alliance with
Russia.
18th Century:
• Gradual annexation of Ukrainian territory by the Russian Empire.
• Late 18th century: Partition of Poland by Russia, Austria, and
Prussia. Most of Ukraine becomes part of the Russian Empire.
19th Century:
• Early 19th Century: The Russian Empire implements
Russification policies, suppressing Ukrainian language and culture.
20th Century:
• 1917: February Revolution in Russia leads to the establishment of
a provisional government. Ukraine forms its own governing body,
the Central Rada.
• 1918:
o Soviet military aggression against Ukraine.
o January 22nd: Ukraine declares independence as the
Ukrainian People's Republic.
o Treaties of Brest-Litovsk: Ukraine and Russia sign separate
peace treaties with Germany and Austria-Hungary.
• 1918-1921: Ukrainian War of Independence: Ukrainians fight for
independence against both the Soviets and White Russians (anti-
communist forces).
1921:
• Ukraine becomes a founding member of the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics (USSR) alongside Russia.
PART 2
