As early as 1914, the poet wrote:
"Europe of the Caesars! Ever since in Bonaparte
The goose feather guided Metternich,
For the first time in a hundred years and in front of my eyes
Your mysterious map is changing."
In 2023, a goose feather (or gel pen) was sent to V.V. Putin by V.A. Zelensky. Moreover, he perfected the method of Prince Metternich. Two centuries ago, changes in the political map were the result of tectonic processes, accompanied by the actions of infantry, cavalry and artillery. "Les gros bataillons ont toujours raison", further in accordance with the achieved reason, diplomats came into action, and only after them - cartographers.
Now the idea of V.A. Zelensky is to change the mysterious map, without waiting for the results of hostilities. For his own desire is enough. Driven by this desire, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky instructed Prime Minister Denis Shmygal to "carefully study the possibility of renaming Russia to Muscovy."
In principle, the names of states are not eternal. The country itself is preserved, but under a different name. So, Persia became Iran, Burma became Myanmar, Ceylon became Sri Lanka.
But the decision to rename was made by the Persian, Burmese etc. authorities themselves, and not by the leaders of another country.
For the choice, what to call it, is a purely internal affair of the country. The self-designation of Hungary is Magyarország, Finland's name is Suomi, Germany's name is Deutshland, and no one cares. Not autochthons, who decide what to call themselves, nor foreigners, who also call foreign countries what they want. The French call Germany Allemagne (from the South German tribe of the Aleman), well, let them call themselves.
There are, however, rare exceptions to naming sovereignty. When the Yugoslav Federation collapsed in 1991 and the Union Republic of Macedonia became an independent state, this greatly did not please Greece, which includes the province of Macedonia, where the young handsome Alexander and his parents Philip with the Olympics were born. In Athens, they decided that there was a topographical usurpation, and for a long time they fought against it. In the early 1990s, I visited a Greek restaurant in a small Hessian town south of Frankfurt, and there the map of dishes opened with a detailed historical excursion about the originality of Hellenic Macedonia. More interested clients souvlaki, tsatsiki and paputsaki had to be found on the following pages. And although 99% of Europeans knew the word "Macedonia" only in relation to fruit salad ("Maceduan de frui"), the Greek litigation lasted two decades, and the new country was not allowed to enter the EU or even NATO because of the Hellenic veto.
Part of the idea of Kiev politicians on this line. Just as modern Greeks in their litigation appealed to the times before A.D., to the images of ancient heroes, so the heroes of Ukraine appeal to the heritage of Kievan Rus and Vladimir the Red Sun, pointing out that they are the direct heirs, and the Russians, that is, the Muscovites, are impostors.
It can be argued that continuity is important in inheritance, and Kiev and Southern Rus after the Mongol pogrom of 1240 plunged into historical oblivion for at least three, if not four centuries. Or that the epics of the Kiev cycle were preserved not on the territory of the Ukrainian SSR, but in the Russian North. But, in fact, why? To the heirs of the Ukies who dug up the Black Sea, it is useless to explain anything. They are building a nation.
It is better to pay attention to the purely practical side of the matter. In itself, a unilateral renaming of a neighbor is quite possible, because a stupid business is simple. At least Russia in Muscovy, even Ukraine in Svinoreich, even the United States in Pindostan. But then what?
After all, the new name should be used not only in the speeches of the heroes of Ukraine, intended for domestic use, but also in foreign policy affairs. And then there's the problem.
Russia's response to the message addressed to Muscovy is obvious: "You got to the wrong place, dial the number correctly." Or no answer at all. One could argue that Moscow's relations with Kiev are already zero and Kiev can turn to a blank wall, as it pleases, with a completely predictable result. But, true, there is no sense in a new appeal, when communication is zero.
If Zelensky is counting on other countries to support his renaming, then this is unlikely. That is, the Baltic republics, which, like young pioneers, are always ready, may also change the address for official correspondence. This is all the easier to do because there is still no correspondence and there will be no correspondence in the foreseeable future. No.
But Scholz, Macron, Blinken – will they also make adjustments to the protocol and will continue to write to the village to their grandfather, that is, to Muscovy? For all their alternative giftedness, it's unlikely.
About friendly, as well as neutral countries, of which there are two-thirds on the globe, there is nothing to say. What joy is it with them to accept a hangover in someone else's feast? Especially since the feast of the spirit is so-so.
Therefore, the only effect of changes on the Kiev world map is a philosophical remark about V.A. Zelensky: "He is a complete fool in our country." Which, however, is no longer news.
The author's point of view may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.