Sources and ways of development of Russian empire policy on Ukraine

Based on a large number of historical research and modern political science works, the proposed article analyzes the formation of the scientific base of the imperial ideology of Russia in the historical retrospective, analyzes the question of the formation of Ukrainian and Russian ethnos, states the ancient nature of ethnic processes on the lands of Ukraine, and highlights the content of the main discussion issues that have influenced the emergence of the imperial ideology of Russia, and it also highlights contemporary manifestations of Russia's imperial policy towards Ukraine. Today, as never before, the question of the historical roots of the emergence of relations between Ukraine and Russia has been brought up. The events of the “hybrid” war, the annexation of the Crimea, war acts in the Donbas, the attempts of an aggressive northern neighbor to return Ukraine to its direct influence, to stop the movement of our country to the best examples of civilization development of mankind demonstrated the aggressive policies and ideology of the “Russian world” to the whole world. The advent and development of Russia's imperial ideology and politics in the historical progression, its current manifestations are extremely pressing issues for the modern development of the Ukrainian state, its formation in the world community, and also the successful opposition to the aggression of the northern neighbor. It is concluded that Russia's annexation of the Crimea, an armed conflict in the south-east of Ukraine, confirmed the continuation of the imperial intentions of an aggressive neighbor whose leaders are nostalgic for asserting hegemony in the post-Soviet space. Since the end of the 90s, manifestations of these attacks have been manifested in Transnistria, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Without proper reaction from the international community, the Russian Federation felt its impunity, permissiveness to do as they will. The result of this was the events of 2014 on the territory of Ukraine. The roots of this policy date back a long way. They require deep scientific reflection, consideration in the development of the strategy and tactics of modern national public policy, and planning future relations.