Putin’s Inaccurate Historical Propaganda : The History of the Russian and Ukrainian Relations

Summary

This video explores the complex history and language dynamics between Ukraine and Russia, focusing on the impact of Russification, the evolution of Ukrainian national identity, and the shifting political landscape post-Soviet Union. It addresses the controversy surrounding Ukraine's language laws, which sidelined Russian in favor of Ukrainian after the 2014 crisis, while also highlighting the struggles of Rusyn speakers in Ukraine. The video critiques Putin’s historical narrative of a unified Russian-Ukrainian people, showing the historical inaccuracies behind the propaganda and emphasizing Ukraine’s sovereignty and identity.

Takeaways

• 😀 Active Russification efforts in Ukraine, such as the resettlement of Ukrainians, largely ended by the late 20th century.
• 😀 Despite widespread Russian language use, a majority of Ukrainians identify as Ukrainians, not Russians.
• 😀 In 1991, Ukraine declared independence from the USSR, with overwhelming support from its citizens (92.3% voted for independence).
• 😀 The Budapest Memorandum (1994) promised the protection of Ukraine's sovereignty by signatory countries in exchange for Ukraine giving up its nuclear weapons.
• 😀 Over time, Ukraine began to lean westward, moving away from close ties with Russia, despite some factions wishing to maintain those relations.
• 😀 After the 2014 crisis, Ukraine's language laws became more nationalistic, sidelining Russian in favor of Ukrainian for official and educational purposes.
• 😀 Claims that Ukraine's language laws are part of a genocide against Russian speakers are false, as Russian remains a recognized minority language.
• 😀 The 2014, 2017, and 2019 language laws made it mandatory for Russian to be taught alongside Ukrainian in schools and for Russian media to provide Ukrainian versions.
• 😀 The real impact of the language laws is felt by Rusyns in Transcarpathia, whose language is not recognized as a minority language in Ukraine, unlike in other countries.
• 😀 Putin's rhetoric about Ukrainian and Russian peoples being 'one single people' is historically inaccurate and based on long-standing Russian propaganda.
• 😀 The current war in Ukraine has been fueled by misrepresentations of history, including false claims about the unified 'Rus' people and Russia’s historical ties to Ukraine.

Q & A

What was the primary goal of Russification in Ukraine under the Soviet Union?

The primary goal of Russification was to assimilate Ukrainians into Russian cultural and linguistic norms, reducing the prominence of Ukrainian identity and language. This included the resettlement of Russians into Ukraine and the promotion of Russian as the dominant language in governance and education.

How did Ukrainians respond to Soviet attempts to suppress their national identity?

While many Ukrainians were forced to adopt Russian as the dominant language and were subjected to cultural assimilation, a significant number of Ukrainians maintained their distinct national identity and language. Nationalist movements, though repressed, continued to exist despite Soviet policies.

What role did the Ukrainian language play in the identity of Ukraine's population by 1990?

By 1990, the majority of Ukrainians could speak Russian, and many identified as Ukrainian despite being native Russian speakers. This duality reflects the complex identity of Ukrainians, where linguistic ties to Russia did not necessarily equate to political or cultural alignment with Russia.

What was the significance of the 1991 Ukrainian independence referendum?

The 1991 referendum marked Ukraine's formal declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. With a voter turnout of 84.2% and 92.3% voting for independence, it was a clear expression of the desire for self-determination among Ukrainians, including in regions like Crimea, which had a large Russian-speaking population.

How did the 1994 Budapest Memorandum affect Ukraine's sovereignty?

The Budapest Memorandum, signed in 1994, guaranteed Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty in exchange for giving up its nuclear weapons. The signatory countries, including Russia, pledged to respect Ukraine's borders and refrain from using force against it. However, Russia's subsequent actions have violated this agreement.

Why did Ukraine shift its foreign policy toward the West in the 21st century?

In the 21st century, a growing portion of the Ukrainian population began to favor closer ties with Western Europe, in contrast to Russia's desire for Ukraine to remain a close ally. This shift became more pronounced after the 2014 crisis, as Ukrainians sought political and economic integration with the West.

What were the language law reforms in Ukraine after 2014?

Following the 2014 crisis, Ukraine adopted stricter language laws, which prioritized Ukrainian over Russian. These reforms, while controversial, sought to reduce Russia's cultural and linguistic influence in Ukraine, mandating that official government activities, education, and media be conducted in Ukrainian.

What has been the impact of the 2014-2019 language laws on Russian speakers in Ukraine?

While Russian remains a recognized minority language, the language laws severely limited its use in official and educational contexts. Russian-language schools and media are now required to include Ukrainian content, and the use of Russian in official settings has become increasingly marginalized.

Why is the situation of Rusyns in Ukraine significant to the language debate?

Rusyns, an ethnic group living in Ukraine, face particular challenges because their language is not officially recognized by the Ukrainian government, which considers it a dialect of Ukrainian. As a result, Rusyns do not have the same rights as other minority language groups, like Russians, to teach their language or publish materials.

How has Putin used historical narratives to justify his actions towards Ukraine?

Putin has often claimed that Russians and Ukrainians are 'one people,' promoting a historical narrative of a unified 'Rus' people, which overlooks the distinct history and identity of Ukraine. This narrative has been used to justify Russia's actions in Ukraine, despite its historical inaccuracy and the complex, separate identities of the two nations.