KYIV — Ukrainians would like to rename Russia — and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is interested in the idea.
A petition has been circulated urging the Ukrainian government to officially change Russia’s name to “Muscovy,” a term which originated in the 13th century and referred to large swaths of modern-day northwestern Russia.
The move is part of a Ukrainian push to diminish what the Russians claim as their historic origin story. Senior Russian officials have already slammed the plan and criticized it as being a provocation.
The recent row has its roots in a historical dispute over whether Russia or Ukraine can claim to be the legitimate successor of Kyivan Rus — the first state of the Eastern Slavs, which converted to Christianity.
www.politico.eu/article/rename-russia-volodymyr-zelenskyy-old-muscovy-moscow-kingdom/