Ukraine must be

About Initiative

“UKRAINE MUST BE” is an initiative spearheaded by the Ukrainian law firm Vasil Kisil and Partners, in collaboration with renowned historians Serhii Plokhii and Yevhenii Monastyrskyi.

Our mission is to highlight Ukraine’s pivotal geopolitical role throughout history, serving as a crucial outpost between Europe and Asia. “The Shortest History of Ukraine” will take you through the nation’s major historical epochs, placing them within a global context to offer a comprehensive understanding and shed light on lesser-known events.

We urge the international community to intensify its support for Ukraine amidst the genocidal war waged by the Russian Federation, striving together for the triumph of human values and life.

About Authors

Serhii Plokhii

Mykhailo S. Hrushevs'kyi Professor of Ukrainian History, Harvard University; Director, Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute.

Yevhenii Monastyrskyi

PhD Student, Department of History, Harvard University; Lecturer, Kyiv School of Economics.

Yevhenii Monastyrskyi

PhD Student, Department of History, Harvard University; Lecturer, Kyiv School of Economics.

Serhii Plokhii

Mykhailo S. Hrushevs'kyi Professor of Ukrainian History, Harvard University; Director, Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute.

Introduction

The Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti) in Kyiv burst into flames in the crucial winter of 2014 as the Euromaidan protests gained momentum. Gathering despite the frigid temperatures, thousands of Ukrainians shouted, “Ukraine is Europe!” This rallying cry went beyond a simple request for democratic change; it was an important affirmation of a historical fact: Ukraine and Russia were partying their ways.

Ukraine’s orientation toward Europe can be tracked back to the 9th century when the powerful state of Kyivan Rus’ was established in and around Kyiv. The conversion of Prince Volodymyr the Great to Christianity in 988 marked a turning point in Ukrainian culture. His son Yaroslav the Wise became known in historiography as the “father-in-law of Europe” given the matrimonial ties of his family to the European rulers. With the fall of Kyivan Rus in the 13th century, the distinctions between Russia and Ukraine came to the fore. The former ended up under Mongol control while the latter joined the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. While Muscovy became an autocratic centralized state, the decentralized Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which nurtured nobiliary democracy, had a different kind of impact on Ukrainian territories. Political independence and a heavy dose of European culture defined these areas, in sharp contrast to the growing authoritarianism in Moscow.

A distinctive course for Ukraine was further cemented by the ascendancy of the Cossack Hetmanate in the mid-17th century. A symbol of defiance against foreign dominance, this semi-independent state was lauded for its democratic leadership and military prowess. The Ukrainian spirit persisted even after the Treaty of Pereyaslav, which ceded some Ukrainian territory to Russia in 1654. A cultural renaissance in the 19th century and dogged resistance to Russification helped keep Ukraine’s unique identity alive throughout centuries of Russian domination.

The Holodomor, the Great Ukrainian Famine of 1932–1933, brought about by Stalin’s ruthless policies, put this resilience to the test in the 20th century. Still, the tragedy has only served to fortify Ukraine’s determination. After the Soviet Union had collapsed in 1991, Ukraine made history by declaring independence and setting out on a path toward democracy and European integration.

Medieval Roots: Kyivan Rus’

Monument to Prince Volodymyr, Kyiv

Kyivan Rus’, a powerful state that modern Ukraine traces its roots, rose to power in the early medieval period on the expansive Eastern European plains.

Kyiv flourished as the capital of the Slavic, Baltic, and Finno-Ugric confederation, that emerged in the 9th century. Thanks to its advantageous position on the Dnipro River, the city served as a hub for vast trade networks that connected Byzantium and Scandinavia.

Early Modern Encounters: Ukrainian Lands in European Context

Monument to Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Kyiv

An important turning point in the history of the Ukrainian territories occurred when Kyivan Rus’ collapsed because of the Mongol invasion in the 13th century.

Over the next centuries Ukraine's political and cultural identity was formed in a European setting separate from Muscovy's path. Much of what is now Ukraine was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania by the mid-14th century. This autonomous state welcomed political and cultural diversity. The princes of Lithuania had taken over Kyiv by 1362.

Constructing
Modern Statehood:
Cossack
Hetmanate

Monument to the Great Otaman Ivan Sirko, Kharkiv

Constructing
Modern Statehood:
Cossack
Hetmanate

The Cossack Hetmanate emerged in the middle of the 17th century as a separate political entity, further establishing Ukraine’s distinctiveness from Russia. Bohdan Khmelnytsky’s 1648 uprising against Polish rule that led to the establishment of the Cossack Hetmanate, was more than just a rebellion; it was a proclamation of the Ukrainian people’s unique cultural and political identity.

Monument to the Great Otaman Ivan Sirko, Kharkiv

Age of Empires:
Ukrainian Identity
Under Russian and Austro-Hungarian Rule

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Ukrainian lands were divided between the Russian and Habsburg empires.

The cultural and political struggle during this period of imperial dominion demonstrated the resilience of Ukrainian identity despite external pressures.

Through War and Revolutions

Monument to Mykhailo Hrushevsky, Lviv

Through War and Revolutions

At the turn of the century, political activity in Ukraine surged as the nation balanced the demands of the Russian and Habsburg empires.

Ukrainian governorates within the Russian Empire were subjected to harsh Russification policies, which led to the rise of political movements. In 1876, the Ems Ukaz forbade publications in the Ukrainian language, which sparked a resistance movement and the formation of secret societies.

The
Soviet Era

The sculpture “Bitter memory of childhood”, National Museum “Holodomor Victims Memorial”

By attacking a young republic and establishing a parallel Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic in early 1918—formed by a group of socialists and communists with a nationalist bent who were eager to join forces together with the Bolsheviks in the chaos that followed the fall of the Russian Empire—the Bolsheviks were posing a threat to Ukraine's independence.

By 1920, the Bolsheviks had taken nearly all of Ukraine under their control, officially launching their rule over the country.

Independence Restored: Road to Europe

Monument to the Independence, Kyiv

Independence Restored: Road to Europe

On August 24, 1991, Ukraine declared its independence from the USSR, marking more than just the emergence of a new nation from the rubble of the Soviet Union.

It was an assertion of a national identity, one that sought to revive its independence and democratic values. It was a moment that marked a beginning of Ukraine’s determined pursuit of nationhood.

Monument to the Independence, Kyiv

Independence
Challenged:
The Russo-
Ukrainian War

Following the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014, Russia loomed as an imminent threat to Ukraine.

Nonetheless, most countries’ reactions to Russia’s March 2014 annexation of Crimea were generic statements expressing concern, but not taking any actions.

CODA: If Ukraine
Had Fallen

There would be a war. There would have been far-reaching consequences beyond the mere seizure of territory had Russia occupied Ukraine in 2022.

A spontaneous memorial in memory of fallen soldiers. Each flag honors a fallen defender. Thousands of flags, Kyiv, Maidan Nezalezhnosti

There would have been an immediate and brutal crackdown on intellectuals, political activists, and leaders in Ukraine. There is evidence that Russian forces in February 2022 had kill lists on hand. This proves that Russia’s goals in Ukraine were far more ambitious than just gaining control of land and people; it aimed to destroy the very essence of Ukrainian resistance and identity. It is utterly absurd to believe that Russia could accomplish its objectives by establishing yet another puppet regime similar to those in Transnistria or Abkhazia. Maintaining an atmosphere of perpetual danger and unpredictability was Russia's primary objective, rather than conquering territory in Ukraine. In today's interconnected world, democratic regimes rely on stability, and this kind of uncertainty can be a potent weapon in their arsenal.

With Russia's victory, Europe would have had to decide between a postponed war or direct confrontation. Because the West was afraid to confront Russia aggressively in 2014, a full-scale invasion took place in 2022. With its grip on Ukraine firmly established, Russia would had to seek to broaden its dominance with an invasion of the Baltic states and the incorporation of Moldova. Furthermore, Russia would have bolstered its military capabilities by utilizing the 40 million people living in Ukraine, including experienced soldiers, along with the country's abundant mineral resources and agricultural riches. With control of Ukraine, Russia could have influenced food prices around the world and eroded European security over time.

A few years later, when Russia continued its push into Eastern Europe, it would have invaded other countries, taking advantage of their weak states due to pro-Russian sentiment among some politicians, lack of determination, and the constant fear of war. These countries would have capitulated one by one. Before the Russians crossed the Vistula, there would not have been a full-scale confrontation between Russia and Western democracies, which could have precipitated a global conflict.

If Ukraine had fallen, there would have been a greater chance of another world war because Russia's thirst for conquest is far from satisfied. Ukraine and Ukrainians are an essential bulwark today, preventing a bigger war and maybe altering history's trajectory. Ukraine is fighting for more than just its independence; it is also fighting to sustain the international order that respects and protects democratic values and national sovereignty.

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