VVP's Q and A sessions on national TV

[msmob]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/vladimir-putin-ukraine-russia-territories-nato-crimea-annexation-rebels-miltants-borders-a7791951.html

As ever, a revealing indication of policy.

[Anotherkiwi]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/vladimir-putin-ukraine-russia-territories-nato-crimea-annexation-rebels-miltants-borders-a7791951.html

As ever, a revealing indication of policy.

There is a superb set of comments by someone called earlll at the end of that article. He also refers to the following article, which I'm guessing Putin has never seen. 

www.euromaidanpress.com/2014/05/14/how-moscow-hijacked-the-history-of-kyivan-rus/

[BillyB]

Before his time is up, Putin may try something big to make sure his name gets in the history books.

[Boethius]

There is a superb set of comments by someone called earlll at the end of that article. He also refers to the following article, which I'm guessing Putin has never seen. 

www.euromaidanpress.com/2014/05/14/how-moscow-hijacked-the-history-of-kyivan-rus/

I haven't read the comments, but the first two declarations in the above article are not historically accurate.

[Anotherkiwi]

I haven't read the comments,

Perhaps you should.  I found them enlightening, especially in relation to what I was shown when in Kyiv.  I would welcome your input as someone with far more in-depth knowledge of the subject.

but the first two declarations in the above article are not historically accurate.

To which actual points are you referring?  I'm not sure which "declarations" you mean.

[Boethius]

Moscow was not created as a vassal state to the Golden Horde.  It was a town in the Principality of Vladimir-Suzdal, mentioned almost a century before the Mongol invasion.

The princes of Kiev-Rus' moved east to set up their own principalities.  So there was connection with tribes in the east.

What is correct is that Kiev-Rus' was not "Russian".  The language spoken by the peoples of Kiev-Rus' was not Russian.  But, it wasn't Ukrainian, either.  We can never know what language was spoken, as Kiev-Rus' was a vast empire, with many different dialects.  However, the written language was close to OCS, and the closest modern day equivalent is Bulgarian.

[Anotherkiwi]

Moscow was not created as a vassal state to the Golden Horde.  It was a town in the Principality of Vladimir-Suzdal, mentioned almost a century before the Mongol invasion.

The princes of Kiev-Rus' moved east to set up their own principalities.  So there was connection with tribes in the east.

Thanks.

What is correct is that Kiev-Rus' was not "Russian".  The language spoken by the peoples of Kiev-Rus' was not Russian.  But, it wasn't Ukrainian, either.  We can never know what language was spoken, as Kiev-Rus' was a vast empire, with many different dialects.  However, the written language was close to OCS, and the closest modern day equivalent is Bulgarian.

Please don't tell the Bulgars - they might get ideas above their station!  And then Uncle Vlad might feel he has to re-educate them...

[tfcrew]

Maps from wikipedia....

[tfcrew]

[tfcrew]

Click on maps to expand
Territories of the Golden Horde under Öz Beg Khan.
By O.Mustafin - Own work, CC0, http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19158607