Ukraine today was called "Sarmatia" at the time of Roman empire. Sarmatians were horse men clad in armour. the core of Sarmatism is said to be "the golden liberty" i.d. freedom and equality. it sounds close to the ideals of french revolution.
Their language probably close to Persian. it is not clear how slavonic language developed over time.
Khazar empire (650-850) came next. it was a mercantile power with national religion Judaism.
Kyiv Rus (882-1240) is regarded as the source of eastern Slavic states.
after the Mongol invasion the area was under Polish/Lithuanian rule.
Ukraine Zaporozhian Cossacks (1648-1775) seek Russian help for the independence from Poland.
1775 Russia annexed Ukraine.
Ukraine independent for a short time after WW1.
1917-1921 Soviet Ukrainian War
1932-1933 Stalin behaved like Pol Pot. drastic decrease of Ukrainian population.
1921-1991 Ukraine as a part of Soviet Union
1991- Ukraine today
