Eurasian Understanding of the Role of Ukraine and Ukrainian Culture in the History of Russia

Abstract

The article examines the teachings of the Eurasians, which proposed a new way of viewing Russian history and Russia’s place in the world. The uniqueness of Russia is expressed in the particularity of its geographical "Eurasia" location. The heart of Eurasia is a belt of steppes stretching from the Danube to Manchuria, and Russia’s main task, according to Eurasians, is to ensure control of this entire space. Eurasians attached particular importance to Ukraine, which, in their opinion, was an integral part of Eurasia. The article examines the idea of ​​Eurasians about the role of Ukraine in the history of Russia. The role of Ukrainian culture in the church reform of Patriarch Nikon and Peter’s reforms is shown. The author provides an analysis of the discussion about the "Ukrainian problem" between one of the founders of Eurasianism, Prince N.S. Trubetskoy, and D.I. Doroshenko, historian and politician. According to Eurasians, in the 17th century, during the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, there was a great influence of Ukrainian culture on Russian culture. This point of view about the role of Ukrainian culture in Russian history was criticized by the Ukrainian historian D.I. Doroshenko, who rejected this influence and any connection between the two cultures and peoples.