The statement by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ukrainians and Russians are "close relatives" does not stand up to any criticism - these are two different people. Over the centuries, the Kremlin has never believed in the "brotherhood" of Moscow and Kiev.

This is on air "The Observer. LIVE "said historian, political expert Alexander Paliy.

"The Russians do not believe in this themselves ... The Russian government itself ... neither in the 17th century, nor in the 21st century ... never believed in it," he said..

As an example, the expert cited a case from history, when in the XVII century in the Posolsky order (the foreign ministry in the Moscow kingdom. - Red. ) Were translators from the Ukrainian language, who in Moscow called "Cherkasy".

"What is there to talk about?" They a priori at that time clearly understood that Ukraine is not Russia. And the story under Peter I was written not the same as that written later by Karamzin. It was written about Muscovy as a separate people of special origin, "added Paliy.

As reported by the "Observer", Paliy told why Russians in vain consider themselves Slavs.

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