The History and Relations of Two Countries

Suncearae Spears

World Politics

March 14 2013

Senator Gerald Neal

Russia and Ukraine

The History and Relations of Two Countries

Russia and Ukraine are both very prominent and influential countries in the world today. Being in existence for thousands of years each, both countries have had their fair share of relations both globally and domestically between the two. Each nation state has been through many civil wars and under the reign of many different rulers.

        Russia has received both many political, economic, and social gains and losses throughout its existence. Ryurik is the individual responsible for the initial coming together of Russia. Before the year of 862 B.C, Russia was composed of different tribes. Ryurik established trading passage through a popular river in Russia and then established Novgorad while also declaring himself the “Duke of Russia”. With the title “Duke of Russia” came the Ryurikid Dynasty which lasted until 1610.

        After the Ryurikid Dynasty, Moscow became the primary culture center for Russia. This era is also commonly known as the Russian Empire causing Russia to be isolated with much of Europe. The Russian Economy was fluctuating at this time due to many reasons (all connected with being an autocratic government). Citizens were being taxed and mistreated. The Russian Serfdom was a taxation policy that the Russians implemented, however it was abolished in 1861 for being unfair to the people living in poverty while also helping to decrease the influence of the idea of revolution. Both the abolishment of the Russian Serfdom and World War One did not influence the government to change from their autocratic system.

        However, in 1917 the continuous decrease in economy, the negative effects of war along with the disagreement of autocracy caused the Russian Revolution. The Russian Revolution initially brought a coalition of liberals and socialist to power. This coalition of liberals and socialist enforced many policies but those policies were eventually seized by communist. These communist eventually turned what is now Russia, in to the Soviet Union. Although Russia is now the Soviet Union at this point, the building of socialistic society was due to different things especially the Era of Stagnation (caused by Joseph Stalin) in the 1980’s. The communist now leading Russia had a very hard time keeping the country strong. There were many economical and political weaknesses eventually causing the Soviet Union to fall.

        When the Soviet Union fell, the Russian Federation began in January of 1922. The Russian Federation is commonly described as the Soviet Union’s legal successor at the international level. The Russian Federation is very similar to the European Union today. Each is a republic with the right of any other republic but they all have the benefit of the Union together.

        Like Russia, Ukraine is now a very prominent country. Ukraine was very powerful in the middle ages but fell apart in the 12th century. In the 12th century, present Ukrainian territories were under the ruling of three external powers (Golden Horde, Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Kingdom of Poland). In 1653 the Ukrainian population rebelled against dominantly Polish Catholic Rule and voted to go to Moscow in 1654. Ukraine was finally divide during what is called the Partition of Poland between Russia and Austria. Most of Ukraine now belongs to the Russian Empire with the rest of the country being under Austria-Hungarian control.

        Ukraine also seen some impacts from the Russian Revolution. The revolution caused much chaotic warfare because of the Ukrainian People’s Republic. In a sense, the civilized Ukraine originated from a civil war called the Ukrainian and Soviet War. The Soviet Army gained control of Ukraine in 1919. Since the Soviets now had control over Ukraine, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was established. This new Soviet Socialist Republic caused much hostility and repression in Ukraine to stop try to stop the spread of the original Ukrainian language. During this period of repression, Ukrain also seen a terrible genocide between the years of 1932 and 1933. Not only that, but Ukrainian territory also increases after the invasion of Poland by the Soviet Union and what was then Nazi Germany.

        World War II made it very hard for Ukrainians, despite the hardships, they still managed to fight for their independence from the Soviet Union and  the Nazis. Finally in 1944, Ukraine became liberated from Germany. A year later, Ukraine became one of the founding countries of the great organization known as the United Nations. Finally, in 1991 Ukraine received complete independence from the Soviet Union and was disintegrating. Due to their independence and their marketing economy, Ukraine seen a recession for eight years.