In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this February 2022 episode of The Rest is History guides us through Ukraine's history and the relationship between the two countries.

In 2022, shortly before launching a full-scale invasion, Russian president Vladimir Putin gave a speech claiming that Ukraine was an artificial state on historically Russian land.

But what is the real story of Ukraine's history and its relationship to its larger neighbor?

The Rest Is History podcast features historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook explaining significant historical events and their parallels with contemporary news.

In this February 2022 episode, broadcast as the invasion of Ukraine began, the hosts present the historical context to Putin's remarks and highlight the misleading elements of his speech.

Topics covered include Ukraine's early history as a Viking nation, its absorption into the Russian empire, and its bloody history and struggle for independence in the 20th century.