This episode takes a clear-eyed deep dive into the complex history behind modern Ukraine’s borders—from the national cradle of Kievan Rus' claimed by three modern-day states, Viking invasions and imperial shifts to Soviet-era decisions—examining how competing historical narratives have shaped both Russia and Ukraine’s territorial claims and international responses.

With negotiations involving Russia and Ukraine possibly imminent, we explore likely demands, legal and political obstacles, and look at where we might focus intentions and prayers to support what will likely be a very sensitive and difficult area for either side to reach compromise over.

Suggested Intention Focus for this week

This week, as the prospect for negotiating a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine edges closer, we suggest holding as our main intention:

We will for wisdom for the facilitators of any forthcoming peace talks involving Russia and Ukraine, to be sensitive to the personalities and motivations of those present, while steering a course that may allow open and respectful discussion.

Please join us in holding this.

Prayers and intentions start at 26 minutes 40 seconds.

Chapter markers:

00:00:00             Introduction

00:01:02             Recent Developments in Ukraine

00:03:41             Understanding Ukraine’s Complex History

00:09:11             The Breakup of the USSR

00:14:14             Russia’s Claim to Ukrainian Territory

00:17:55             Russia’s Territorial Demands in Negotiations

00:26:40             Intentions and Prayers

Sources referenced in this episode:

http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/66181

https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lseih/2020/07/01/there-is-no-ukraine-fact-checking-the-kremlins-version-of-ukrainian-history/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ukraine

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kievan_Rus'

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Historical_Unity_of_Russians_and_Ukrainians

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-Soviet_transition_in_Ukraine

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia%E2%80%93Ukraine_relations

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Ukrainian_War

https://guides.lib.uconn.edu/ukraine/pre1914

https://kyivindependent.com/how-russia-steals-and-rewrites-ukrainian-history-to-justify-its-claims-in-ukraine/

https://kyivindependent.com/kyivan-rus-then-and-now/

https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-says-he-will-discuss-territory-with-putin-as-ukraine-signals-readiness-for-unconditional-peace-talks-with-russia/

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2025/03/finding-insights-in-history-for-war-in-ukraine/

https://news.sky.com/story/trump-zelenskyy-putin-ukraine-latest-live-updates-12541713

https://news.sky.com/story/vladimir-putin-demands-key-parts-of-ukraine-in-exchange-for-peace-13413322

https://opir.weareukraine.info/ukrainian-statehood-in-1917-1921/

https://ppr.lse.ac.uk/articles/10.31389/lseppr.86

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https://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/GEOP/article/download/96493/4564456569584/4564456721219

https://theconversation.com/how-moscow-has-long-used-the-historic-kyivan-rus-state-to-justify-expansionism-178092

https://theconversation.com/trump-putin-summit-veteran-diplomat-explains-why-putting-peace-deal-before-ceasefire-wouldnt-end-russia-ukraine-war-263314

https://ukraineworld.org/en/articles/basics/ukraines-statehood-formation

https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-16-2025

https://visitukraine.today/de/blog/1850/russias-crimes-with-a-thousand-year-history-how-muscovy-tried-to-appropriate-kyivan-rus

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/19/trump-proposes-putin-zelenskyy-summit-in-push-to-end-ukraine-war

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Russia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia

https://daily.jstor.org/the-birth-of-the-soviet-union-and-the-death-of-the-russian-revolution/

https://www.britannica.com/place/Russia

https://www.britannica.com/place/Russia/History

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj0q964851po

https://www.britannica.com/summary/Ukraine

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/ukraine-conflict-crossroads-europe-and-russia

https://www.chathamhouse.org/2022/08/russias-longstanding-problem-ukraines-borders

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-putin-zelensky-ukraine-news-08-17-25

https://www.csis.org/analysis/russias-war-ukraine-identity-history-and-conflict

https://www.dw.com/en/russia-ukraine-war-which-possible-territorial-concessions-are-under-debate/a-73630386

https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2024/01/29/a-short-history-of-russia-and-ukraine

https://www.ispionline.it/en/publication/borders-in-the-post-soviet-region-unfinished-business-190265

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/russia-and-ukraine-the-tangled-history-that-connects-and-divides-them

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/would-ceding-territory-to-russia-actually-bring-lasting-peace-to-ukraine-experts-weigh-in

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/08/19/7526808/

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115047128460078066

https://www.publicinternationallawandpolicygroup.org/lawyering-justice-blog/2025/2/13/legal-basis-for-ukraines-territorial-reintegration

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/trump-tells-zelenskiy-us-would-help-with-ukrai