Denis Bulanov, a deputy of the Saratov Regional Duma from the Communist Party, has proposed renaming the Black Sea into the ‘Russian Sea,’ Russian media outlet Ostorozhno Novosti reported on January 21.
According to Bulanov, he was inspired by US President Donald Trump’s recent decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the ‘American Gulf.’
Bulanov claimed that the Black Sea was historically referred to as the ‘Russian Sea,’ mentioned in some ancient Rus' chronicles.
“The idea of rethinking geographic names is gaining popularity worldwide as nations strive to emphasize their historical and cultural identity,” said Bulanov. “In this context, we could consider restoring the Black Sea’s old name—the Russian Sea.”
When asked how this proposal would impact Turkey and other nations bordering the Black Sea, Bulanov clarified: “This would be for domestic use within Russia only. I’m not insisting that other countries bordering the Black Sea recognize the name change.”
Earlier, Nikolai Patrushev, an aide to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, claimed that Ukraine will “cease to exist” by 2025.
