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Chapter 3
Historical Roots of Ukrainian-Russian Relations and Territorial Disputes
The history of Ukraine and Russia is deeply intertwined, with roots reaching back to the medieval state of Kievan Rus, which existed around the 9th to the 13th centuries. This state was a federation of Slavic tribes and is often viewed as the cultural and political foundation for both modern Russia and Ukraine.
The ties established during this period set the stage for centur-ies of complex relationships characterized by both unity and conflict. With the Mongol invasion in the 13th century, Kievan Rus fragmented, and different principalities emerged, leading to varying influences from Poland, Lithuania, and later, the Russian Empire.
The relationship became more complicated in the 17th cen-tury when Ukraine sought to liberate itself from Polish-Lithu-anian control. The Treaty of Pereyaslav in 1654 marked a significant moment as Ukrainian Cossacks allied with Russia, hoping that this partnership would provide security against foreign domination. However, over time, this alliance turned into a struggle for autonomy as the Russian Empire expanded and attempted to exert control over Ukrainian territories. This historical context lays the groundwork for current territorial disputes. The lands that make up modern-day Ukraine have, at various times, been under the control of neighboring coun-tries, leaving many ethnic Ukrainians feeling a deep-rooted connection to land that has often shifted between empires and nations.