This anti-Russia thing is going too far. It's beginning to sound like racism.

@Really
When people declare that parts of the British population "are English" do they ever pause to wonder what they mean by that? Are they talking about birthplace, geopolitical history, nationalist sentiment, ethnicity/DNA, ancient migrations, dislike of western democracy, what?

What kind of biopsy or brain-probe determines that someone "is English"?

That's just politically expedient rhetoric.

@CookieLuvsBunny When people declare that parts of the British population "are English" I think they are usually referring to place of birth, upbringing, perhaps domicile and/or immigrant decision. There's little chance of geographic ambiguity because England and its borders have existed virtually unchanged for hundreds of years; unlike Russia, Ukraine, or most of Europe. There's nothing particularly admirable about this. It's just geopolitical history, aided by the fact that England's at one end of a long narrow island and has short, easily defended land borders.

The thing about third parties declaring people 'English', 'Russian' etc. is that it doesn't identify any actual persons & ask them how they describe themselves and why. Without those it's political rhetoric.

@CookieLuvsBunny Note that the various parts of Britain do not issue separate citizenships. All - even those calling themselves 'English' are legally just 'Brits'; as I believe even 'ethnic' Hawaiians are legally Americans. (But we don't call you Washingtonians if you're from Honolulu.) Please don't confuse British with English.

@CookieLuvsBunny [quote]When people declare that parts of the British population "are English" do they ever pause to wonder what they mean by that?[/quote]
Probably not, and that's exactly my point, but made in the Russia/Ukraine context which is the topic here.