Not quite. "The Ukraine" in Russian means "the hinterland" or "the outskirts." The two languages are mutually intelligible. Ukraine has been part of Russia ever since Russia existed. The differences of the dialects resemble the differences between Czech and Slovakian.
The rulers of neither of these people have been very nice to their subj…
Not quite. "The Ukraine" in Russian means "the hinterland" or "the outskirts." The two languages are mutually intelligible. Ukraine has been part of Russia ever since Russia existed. The differences of the dialects resemble the differences between Czech and Slovakian.
The rulers of neither of these people have been very nice to their subjects in history, but that can be said about most rulers. The problem is that nationalism, since 1789, has been exploited towards a simple change of rulers. No matter who rules, the simple person ends up with the shorter stick...
I understand that (parts) of Ukraine have been connected with Russia for centuries. My question was, where do you think that stick is shorter? Do you think that the 'simple person' in Ukraine would rather live under Russian control?
But it's not that simple, and not all parts of Ukraine, with Eastern Ukraine being part of the Russian Empire (not Russia). Western Ukraine was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and only became part of the USSR in the 20th century.
It's true that both countries trace back to Kievan Rus', which was actually ruled by ethnic Scandinavians. But they went their separate ways for a few hundred years.
I'm sure that the Ukrainians really loved being under Russian/Soviet 'control', and want to return. Would you?
I admit to having been sloppy; indeed, there is still a Hungarian-speaking minority in Western Ukraine. FYI: the language has been banned in education since Ukraine became "independent," so oppression was not limited to ethnic Russians...
It doesn't matter whose control it is; what matters is whether the rulers care for the people or not. After Stalin, mass murders were stopped in the Soviet Union. The country, however, was not exactly a paradise for free speech and living standards. Still, the shortages were evenly distributed, ethnic Russians were not any better off than anyone else. In fact, the satellite states cost too much, so the Russians were happy to let them go after 1991.
Not quite. "The Ukraine" in Russian means "the hinterland" or "the outskirts." The two languages are mutually intelligible. Ukraine has been part of Russia ever since Russia existed. The differences of the dialects resemble the differences between Czech and Slovakian.
The rulers of neither of these people have been very nice to their subjects in history, but that can be said about most rulers. The problem is that nationalism, since 1789, has been exploited towards a simple change of rulers. No matter who rules, the simple person ends up with the shorter stick...
I understand that (parts) of Ukraine have been connected with Russia for centuries. My question was, where do you think that stick is shorter? Do you think that the 'simple person' in Ukraine would rather live under Russian control?
Ukraine was not "connected." it was part of Russia.
When it comes to simple people, their end of the stick is always shorter. It is not "Russian" or "Ukranian" control. It is simply CONTROL...
But it's not that simple, and not all parts of Ukraine, with Eastern Ukraine being part of the Russian Empire (not Russia). Western Ukraine was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and only became part of the USSR in the 20th century.
It's true that both countries trace back to Kievan Rus', which was actually ruled by ethnic Scandinavians. But they went their separate ways for a few hundred years.
I'm sure that the Ukrainians really loved being under Russian/Soviet 'control', and want to return. Would you?
I admit to having been sloppy; indeed, there is still a Hungarian-speaking minority in Western Ukraine. FYI: the language has been banned in education since Ukraine became "independent," so oppression was not limited to ethnic Russians...
It doesn't matter whose control it is; what matters is whether the rulers care for the people or not. After Stalin, mass murders were stopped in the Soviet Union. The country, however, was not exactly a paradise for free speech and living standards. Still, the shortages were evenly distributed, ethnic Russians were not any better off than anyone else. In fact, the satellite states cost too much, so the Russians were happy to let them go after 1991.