Mr. de Soto must have been reading a history book authored by Vladimir Putin (letters, Feb. 2) when he falsely claims that Ukraine has been part of Russia since the 1300s except for the years of independence after the break up of the Soviet Union.
Ukraine does have a complicated history, including periods of independence and periods in which it was ruled by Lithuania, Poland the Soviet Union and other powers. A quick reading of history on Wikipedia or other readily available public sources can give an accurate picture of its history. Ukraine in the Middle Ages was in fact much more prosperous and advanced than Russia.
Ukrainians are a proud people, currently enjoying individual freedom, deserving to determine their own destiny without being occupied and ruled by Communist Russia. They need and deserve our help.
Joseph D. Cheavens
Durango
