France supports Ukraine in the fight for freedom. At the same time, Emmanuel Macron believes that Ukraine will need decades to fully enter the European Union. The French leader forgot: Kyiv is and has always been at the center of the European saga.
If a time machine were invented and Anna Yaroslavna ended up in France in the 21st century, she could give Macron a lesson in history. For the French leader to finally understand: Kyiv does not need time to “grow” to the European Union. Kyiv has been a European capital for more than a thousand years.
Kyiv princess became Queen of France
Anna Yaroslavna was born in the heyday of Kievan Rus. The princess's father, the legendary Yaroslav the Wise, was one of the world's brightest intellectuals of that time. He collected books. He financed translations of old texts. He cared about culture and education. He went down in history as a wise and rational legislator.
Anna's mother, Ingigerda, is the daughter of the Swedish king. She gave her daughter the cultural heritage of the Vikings and made Anna a multicultural royals.
In St. Sophia of Kyiv, which was built by Yaroslav the Wise, there is a fresco depicting a beautiful young woman. It is believed that this is Anna Yaroslavna. Interesting: when the fresco was created, Anna already knew that soon she would have to leave her native Kyiv and go on a long journey?
The world of Yaroslav is important for the history of Europe
A thousand years ago, Yaroslav the Wise realized that in order for Kievan Rus to flourish, it was necessary to develop not only domestic, but also foreign policy. At that time, marriage became an instrument of diplomacy. Yaroslav's daughters were married to Norwegian, Hungarian and possibly English royalty.
Europe cannot simply look for its origin story in the world of Charlemagne. Yaroslav's world also matters, – Politico notes.
Anna was not a “wife among tapestries”
In the late 1040s, Anna Yaroslavna becomes engaged to Henry I, the king of France. They got married in the Reims Cathedral.
Written references testify that Anna did not become “the queen among tapestries” in Paris. She was actively interested in politics and participated in state affairs. Many documents of that era were signed with the consent or in the presence of Anna Yaroslavna.
When Henry I died, Anna helped their young son Philip rule. Mother and son were often called “rulers”, which testifies to Anna's influence and her role in the formation of France at that time.
Speaking of Ukraine, Macron is wrong
Ukrainian heroes won the European future for the state during the Revolution of Dignity. And for 8 years and 307 days they have been defending the freedom of all of Europe.
While Macron is pondering whether Ukraine is European, Ukraine has been creating the history of Europe and protecting it for ten centuries. Anna Yaroslavna would definitely remind the French president thatKyiv is at the center of the European saga. So it was, is and will be.
Putin tried to steal Anna Yaroslavna
While books were being written and churches were being built in Kyiv, wild animals were howling in the Moscow swamps. However, history does not know a single day when Russia would not try to steal anything. Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with Macron in 2017, lied that relations between Russia and France began with the marriage of Anna Yaroslavna and Henry I.
At the same time, Macron did not react as the Russian dictator would like. A month later, during a meeting with Petro Poroshenko, the French leader subtly teased the bunker grandfather.
“First of all, I want to tell you that our countries have very long-standing relations, a very deep history. We devoted some time to this today to pay tribute to Anna Kievskaya. We showed how deeply rooted our long-standing relationship is,” Macron said during a briefing with Poroshenko.
Ukraine will certainly join the European Union. If Anna Yaroslavna had a time machine, she would definitely arrive on this day to celebrate the event in her native Kyiv – the indestructible city of indestructible people.
