By Esther Claudette Gittens 

The historical and modern relationship between Russia and Ukraine is deeply complex, shaped by centuries of cultural, political, and military entanglements. Ukraine, often viewed as the borderland between East and West, has long been at the center of Russian imperial ambitions. From the Tsarist era to the Soviet Union and into the present-day war, the relationship between these two nations has been marked by conflict, control, and a persistent Ukrainian struggle for sovereignty.

Early History: Kievan Rus and Russian Expansion

The origins of both Russia and Ukraine can be traced back to Kievan Rus, a powerful Slavic state that existed from the 9th to the 13th century. The city of Kyiv (Kiev) served as its political and cultural heart, making it the ancestral home of both modern-day Russia and Ukraine. However, after the Mongol invasion in the 13th century, Kievan Rus fragmented, and Moscow gradually rose as the dominant power in the region.

By the 17th century, Russia began expanding its influence over Ukrainian lands, particularly after the Pereyaslav Agreement (1654), when Ukrainian Cossacks allied with the Tsarist Russian Empire to fend off Polish-Lithuanian rule. While this was initially framed as a military alliance, it soon led to Ukraine falling under Russian control, beginning a long period of subjugation.

Imperial Russia and the Suppression of Ukrainian Identity

During the Russian Empire (1721–1917), Ukraine was increasingly absorbed into Russian rule. The Tsars imposed Russification policies, banning the Ukrainian language, restricting local autonomy, and enforcing Russian cultural dominance. Despite this, Ukrainian nationalism persisted, particularly in western Ukraine, where Polish and Austro-Hungarian influences allowed for a greater sense of independence.

The collapse of the Russian Empire after World War I provided a brief window for Ukrainian independence. In 1918, Ukraine declared itself a sovereign state, but it was quickly invaded and absorbed into the newly formed Soviet Union by 1922.

Soviet Era: Famine, Repression, and Resistance

The Soviet period was one of the darkest in Ukraine’s history. Under Joseph Stalin, Ukraine suffered the Holodomor (1932–1933), a man-made famine that killed millions. Many historians argue that this was a deliberate act of genocide, designed to break Ukrainian resistance to Soviet rule. The forced collectivization of farms and the suppression of Ukrainian culture fueled deep resentment toward Moscow.

During World War II, Nazi Germany occupied Ukraine, and some Ukrainians initially saw them as liberators from Soviet oppression. However, the brutal occupation soon led to resistance movements against both the Nazis and Soviets. After the war, Ukraine remained part of the USSR, but nationalist sentiment continued underground.

Independence and Post-Soviet Tensions

In 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine voted overwhelmingly (over 90%) for independence. However, Russia never fully accepted Ukraine’s breakaway, seeing it as part of its historical sphere of influence.

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Ukraine oscillated between pro-Western and pro-Russian leadership. The Orange Revolution (2004) and the Euromaidan protests (2013–2014) were major turning points, as Ukrainians rejected Russian-backed leaders and sought closer ties with Europe.

In response, Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and supported separatist movements in eastern Ukraine, marking the beginning of open conflict.

Modern War and the Struggle for Sovereignty

The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was the culmination of years of tensions. Putin framed the war as a mission to “de-Nazify” Ukraine and protect Russian-speaking populations, but in reality, it was an attempt to reassert Russian dominance.

Today, Ukraine stands as a fiercely independent nation, resisting Russian aggression with Western military support. While the outcome of the war remains uncertain, the historical struggle for Ukrainian sovereignty continues to shape its modern identity.

The Relationship

The relationship between Russia and Ukraine is one of domination, resistance, and national survival. Rooted in centuries of shared history, their modern conflict is the latest chapter in Ukraine’s fight for independence. Whether Ukraine fully secures its sovereignty or remains entangled in Russian influence will define the geopolitical future of Eastern Europe.

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