The latest events in Ukraine again attracted attention of the public upon the question of “single blood line” of the Russians and Ukrainians. To understand whether this statement is true or false we shall consider it as a historical coexistence of the nations and look at the system of values of the nations.
The history of Russia is closely connected with the city of Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. Duke Oleg called it “the Mother of all Russian cities” for a reason. Many years the Kievan Russia had been one the most powerful nations. After the dissolution of the Kievan Russia, Ukraine and Russia started to make their own ways. But yet remained the one Church, the common history remained, which in Russian history books began from the Primary chronicles of the Kievan period.
Many centuries the close friendship, close economic and political relationships were binding Russia and Ukraine. The creation of the USSR gave a new turn to the development of Russian-Ukrainian friendship. Deep integration of the soviet republics at every level helped USSR to become the leader in practically every sphere starting with the chemical industry and ending with the machinery. Geographical diversity was giving a great advantage to USSR in comparison with the other countries and Ukrainian SSR made a big contribution to this matter. Huge enterprises had been created all over the republic, a lot of specialist from all over the country made the opportunity of sharing the priceless experiences possible. Being a part of a huge mechanism called USSR, Ukraine became a highly developed industrial and agricultural country with the compound complexes of heavy equipment, food and consumer goods industries. And if Ukraine did not refuse from the nuclear heritage of USSR the world could witness the other nuclear-weapon state. Another side of close relationships between Ukrainians and Russians is the system of values of the nations. The Institute of Social Science of Russian Academy of Science made a series of researches aiming at the “Studying the basic values of Russians under the European social research “(Mogun and Rudnev). Under the cluster analysis the Russian speaking people along with the Russians living in Lithuania, Slovakia and Estonia appeared to be sharing the single system of values directing at the drive for developments and conservatism in life stance.
Close relationship of two nations is eminent, but “the Orange Revolution” of 2004 worsened the friendship of two neighbors. Plans of NATO accession, association with Europe could not but impact on Russian-Ukrainian friendship. The tension was escalating. Mutual reproaches started to transfer into a conflict, the example can be the gas conflict. Notwithstanding on a political tenses, statistics showed that about 73% of Ukrainians have a positive attitude to Russians, about 62% of people do not support the Government oriented to the West.
The thought that Russians and Ukrainians will be visiting the Red Square or Maidan as tourists is unacceptable for the minds of nations. Despite of the actions of fake-history teachers and neo-nazis, that have come to power, the statement that Russians and Ukrainians are different nations does not have a real basis under it. Our fathers went through the triumphs and bitterness of defeat together, we have one unbelievable history, we can understand each other without any interpreters, which other Europeans cannot do, and if the people would be united, the danger would only strengthen, but not destroy the invisible connection that our history had been creating for ages.
And now we see the regular Ukrainian and Russian soldiers facing each other in silence in Crimea. And you cannot believe that they see the enemies in their neighbours. And how would they act if eventually they faced the question of “shoot” or “not to shoot”? It does not matter whether it happens during the other provocative actions of the politicians, that are involved into a West-East confrontation. Only they can be responsible for the possible break of the relationship between Russian and Ukrainians, for gunshot is enough to materialize that.