Russia and Ukraine

[Leonardo17]

Some historical perspective.

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In the Viking Era 800-1000 AD. The “Rus” are appearing as a mixed culture made of Viking / Varangian settlers and local populations Cossacks – Central Asian horse riding nomads. Kiev is established as one of the prosperous settlements. In fact the river systems of the region allowed Viking / Varangian traders to travel south toward Milkagard (Constantinople / Capital of the East-Roman Empire). They brought things like fur and ivory from northern lands in exchange for many luxury products from East-Roman and Saracen lands (precious stones, silks, spices, you name it).
 
It is also in this era that the “Rus” start to become divided into principalities. Ukrainians than appear as an ethnic group that are closer to Poland than they are to Muscovites (See video).

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But Russian Tsars like Peter the Great or Catherine the Great have sought to assimilate them into their own culture as a part of their policy to have naval bases in southern seas that would allow them to take their share of colonialism. (See Video)
 
https://youtu.be/WIU86ib4FDs?t=471
 

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Zelensky does not want a stalemate, He believes that the conflict has to be solved by this generation, as soon as possible:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/zelensky-froz...53257.html