Ukrainian vs. Russian Language Euronews: Kyiv or Kiev? Why does it matter so much to Ukrainians? By Euronews. Published June 23, 2019 at 10:14 am Two workers fix a state emblem, the trident, in Kyiv city center on Oct. 25. 2016. Photo by Volodymyr Petrov Kyiv or Kiev? These are the two most common ways of writing the name of Ukraine’s capital. Read more here.