How one treaty made Ukraine vassal of Russia for 337 years (VIDEO)

One of the strongest links in the toxic chain of events that has bound Ukraine’s fate to that of Russia was forged more than 350 years ago.

Called the Treaty of Pereyaslav, this political maneuver in 1654 was designed to save Ukraine from Polish domination.

It did so, but it also made Ukraine a Russian vassal for centuries.

But for the treaty, Ukraine might have been an entirely different country. Ukrainians could now be speaking no or little Russian, have another religion, and culturally as well as economically be less dependent on modern Russia.

Yet equally, the country may never have achieved independence at all, having remained under Polish control or having fallen under the domination of the Ottomans.

Learn more about the Pereyaslav Treaty and its role in the history of Ukraine: https://bit.ly/2NQwIS7