Unequal Brothers

For centuries, Russians and Ukrainians have considered themselves brother nations, although the Russians see themselves as being in the role of an older brother. This book tells the story of these unequal brothers as an interplay between entwinement and disentanglement, thus enabling us to to a better understanding of the current Russian-Ukrainian conflict. The Russian annexation of the Crimea and the subsequent occupation of the industrial region in the south-east of Ukraine by militia controlled by Russia in Spring 2014 have sparked a military conflict between the two countries that continues today. Since the 18th century, the relationship between these closely connected peoples has increasingly demonstrated an asymmetry. This culminated in the 19th century, when Russia refused to recognize the “Little Russians,” which was how the Ukrainians were officially referred to at that time, as an independent nation with a separate history from Russia. This is still the viewpoint of Russia today and is also widespread in the West. Andreas Kappeler is professor emeritus of Eastern European history at the University of Vienna and a member of both the Austrian and the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences.