“On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians” is an essay by Russian president Vladimir Putin published on 12 July 2021. It was published shortly after the end of the first of two buildups of Russian forces preceding the large military invasion in February 2022. In the essay, Putin describes his views on Ukraine and Ukrainians. Vladimir Putin argues that Russians and Ukrainians, along with Belarusians, are one people, belonging to what has historically been known as the triune Russian nation. To support the claim, he describes in length his views on the history of Russia and Ukraine, concluding that Russians and Ukrainians share a common heritage and destiny. The essay denies the existence of Ukraine as an independent nation. Noting the large number of ethnic Russians in Ukraine, Putin compares “the formation of an ethnically pure Ukrainian state, aggressive towards Russia” to a use of weapons of mass destruction against Russians. Putin openly questions the legitimacy of Ukraine's contemporary borders. According to Putin, the modern-day Ukraine occupies historically Russian lands, and is an “anti-Russia project” created by external forces since the seventeenth century, and of administrative and political decisions made during the Soviet Union. Putin places blame for the current crisis on foreign plots and anti-Russian conspiracies. According to Putin, the decisions of the Ukrainian government are driven by a Western plot against Russia as well as by “followers of Bandera”. This edition includes: On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians Putin Commentaries About the Essay “On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians” The World Order (New Rules or a Game without Rules) Address by the President of the Russian Federation, February 21, 2022 Address by the President of the Russian Federation, September 21, 2022
