How a single treaty disproves 3 Kremlin myths: The Pereiaslav Agreement (1654) ❌️Muscovy was known as "Russia" even before Peter I ❌️Ukrainians wanted to "reunite" with Muscovy ❌️Ukrainian and Russian were mutually intelligible before modern Ukr. nationalism A thread🧵
What was the Pereiaslav Agreement? In 1654, the Cossack Hetmanate, led by Bohdan Khmelnytsky, negotiated with Tsar Alexis of Muscovy. The goal was a mutual defense pact: the Hetmanate would swear allegiance to the Tsar in exchange for guarantees of Ukrainian autonomy.
The conditions of the agreement went as follows:
1. Autonomy of the Hetmanate The Cossack Hetmanate would retain its self-governance. It would keep its own elected Hetman, administration, judiciary, and military. Muscovy could not station troops in Ukraine without the Hetman’s approval.
2. Taxes and Finances All taxes collected in Ukrainian lands would remain under local control, not sent to Moscow. Muscovite officials would not interfere in financial or judicial affairs of the Hetmanate.
3. Foreign Policy The Hetman was to coordinate foreign policy with the Tsar, especially in matters of war. However, the Hetmanate was to retain the right to negotiate independently with other powers.
In exchange, the Cossack leadership would officially have to swear allegiance to the Tsar. Importantly, this was understood as protection, not subordination. The Hetmanate agreed to defend Muscovy in war, as long as the agreed conditions were upheld.
Now to the myths this treaty disproves:
Myth #1: Muscovy was known as "Russia" even before Peter I False. The 1654 agreement consistently refers to Muscovy as the "Muscovite State/Tsardom," in official documents from both sides. The name "Russia" was only adopted later under Peter I in the early 18th century.
Myth #2: Ukrainians wanted to "reunite" with Muscovy Nope. Before approaching Moscow, the Cossack leadership first sought an alliance with the Ottomans. Ukrainians saw themselves as distinct from Muscovy. A so-called “reunion” was never the goal. Independence and survival were.
Myth #3: Ukrainian & Russian were mutually intelligible Contemporary records show that the Muscovite envoy needed a translator to speak with Khmelnytsky. It wasn't common in Ukraine, even for educated men such as Khmelnytsky himself, to be able to speak Muscovite Russian.
But like many other agreements signed by Russians, this one too was repeatedly violated by Moscow, ultimately leading to the complete absorption of the Hetmanate into the Russian Empire by 1764 and the end of all autonomy in Ukraine by 1781.
