The history of Kievan Rus' is a complex and fascinating one, with the state playing a significant role in the development of Eastern Europe and the broader region. The origins of Kievan Rus' can be traced back to the late 9th century, when the Varangians (Vikings) established themselves in the region. The Varangians were a group of Scandinavian warriors and traders who had been active in Eastern Europe for several centuries. They established the city of Kyiv (also spelled Kiev) as their capital, and began to expand their control over the surrounding area.

The history of Russia is a long and complex one, with the first recorded settlements dating back to the 9th century. Over the centuries, Russia has been ruled by a variety of different empires, governments, and leaders, and has gone through many periods of expansion and contraction.

Slavic mutuality does not exist. I think that we ourselves in the former Czechoslovak Socialist Republic have become convinced of this, but other "Slavic" nations also know about it. Recently a Ukrainian friend sent me their attitude and historical facts about the "brotherhood" between Russia and Ukraine. Why do so many Ukrainians speak Russian?

My hatred of all things Russian grows stronger every day. I have always considered Russia to be a peculiar country, drunk, raw, but proud and stable. I have admired Russia's many unprecedented achievements in the field of technology and a kind of almost steampunk-like path of development, not necessarily bad and in many ways surprisingly effective and functional.