Foot in Mouth: Ukraine’s Poroshenko Commits Gaffe During University Speech

Demonstrating his history skills in front of university students, Petro Poroshenko miscalculated events by a few centuries.

Speaking to the students at the Chernigov National Pedagogical University in northern Ukraine, President Petro Poroshenko decided to show off his knowledge of history and once again attempted to demonstrate the superiority of the Ukrainian nation to other nations, the media reported.

“I think there are only a few universities in Europe, who can trace their history back to 1700. When in Chernigov there were century old churches, in Moscow there was only a swamp,” the president announced from his podium accompanied by the students’ applause.

“By this statement, Poroshenko put himself in a rather embarrassing position, as Moscow was founded in 1147. In the second half of the XIII century, Moscow became the center of independent principality, and at the beginning of the XIV century the residence of the metropolitans was moved to Moscow making the city a religious center. Therefore, it remains a mystery how the city, which was founded in 1147, and by the beginning of the XV century became a major trade and crafts center in 1700, was only a swamp,” Ukrainian media wrote.

Journalists also pointed out that back then Chernigov was a part of the Russian state.

"All this proves once again that Poroshenko has problems not just with history, but with math as well," a Ukrainian news agency reported.