Zelensky has responded to a petition to rename Russia into Moskovia. The Russian Federation responded

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, together with scientific institutions, to clarify whether it is possible to return Russia to its historical name - Moskoviya.

Before doing so, Zelensky considered an electronic petition whose author suggested that the name "Russia" be officially changed to "Moscovia" and that the terms "Russian" be changed to "Moscovia" and "Russian Federation" be changed to "Moscow Federation".

Zelenskiy pointed out that "the issue raised in the petition requires thorough elaboration both from the perspective of the historical and cultural context and taking into account the possible international legal consequences".

In her turn, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded tothe initiative. In her words, President Vladimir Zelensky's instruction to Prime Minister Denys Shmygal to look into the possibility of renaming Russia into Moskovia is "evidence of an attempt to create an 'anti-Russia'.

We would like to add that Russia has actually existed for only 301 years - since 22 October 1721, when Moscow Tsar Peter the Great proclaimed the Moscow Empire as the Russian Empire.