Shapovalov noted that this idea is "not new at all" and has existed in the current Ukrainian elite for a long time.
The expert added that there are two options for Ukraine: either to recognize the position according to which Ukrainians and Russians are one people, or to tell such a "completely ridiculous and stupid fable."
“This is a difficult historical choice: the desire, on the one hand, to have a long history, on the other hand, to separate this history from Russian history.
This leads to such absolutely unscientific, divorced from reality solutions, in which nothing better is found than to come up with such a complex name as Rus-Ukraine, "the expert said.
According to him, this idea has nothing to do with the historical truth and the historical past.
Earlier, the adviser to the head of the office, Alexey Arestovich, proposed to name the country Rus-Ukraine.
According to him, it is necessary "to select the brand of the Russians in the end."
In turn, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, noted that now there is an understanding of "what they are working on in Zelensky's office."
She also offered Arestovich the name "Ukrus" as an alternative.