On July 15, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Ukrainian Statehood and the anniversary of the Baptism of Kyiv Rus-Ukraine.
The origins of Ukrainian statehood date back to the 9th century and the period of the Old Rus’ state, which at that time belonged to the most powerful political and cultural centers of Europe.
The Knyaz period gave Ukrainians the ancient Ukrainian language, written Cyrillic, and the first self-name – “Rus”, “Rusychi”, “Rusyns”. The national symbols – the Coat of Arms, the Flag, the Anthem, and the Trident, as well as the name of the currency unit “hryvnia”, also come from this period.
The word “Ukraine” is first mentioned in the chronicles of 1187. Historians note that Ukraine is the only full-fledged heir to Rus.
The decision of Prince Vladimir the Great to be baptized in 988 determined the European vector of the country’s development. The current course towards membership in the European Union and NATO is seen as a continuation of this historical choice.
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