For centuries they have not been allowed to live in freedom in their homeland. and have not reaped the full benefit of their hard work. The reason for this misfortune is that. except for the very short 2year period of national independence in 191820. they have been suffering under alien yokes for more than three centuries. Up to the middle of the 17th century they survived the onslaughts of invading Asiatic hordes. Then in 1654 Ukrainian leaders were induced to sign a treaty with the Russian czar. culminating in the union of the two countries. Soon Ukrainian leaders realized that they had been tricked into a trap by the Russian czar. for the wily autocrat nullified the terms of this compact and put an end to the Ukraines independence.