When Vladimir Putin declares that Russians and Ukrainians are “one people,” he isn’t just making a political point; he’s reaching deep into medieval history. At the center of this story are the Viking-age Rus, the federation known as Kievan Rus, and the Christian ruler Vladimir the Great. From trade routes and conversions to centuries of conquest and divergence, the region’s history is far more complex than any single narrative suggests.
Click on for a closer look at the origins of this contested shared heritage.