Rus vs. Russia: What's the Difference?

The medieval Russian state established by Scandanavian traders in the 9th century; the capital was first in Novgorod and then in Kiev

A country of Europe and Asia.

A former communist country in eastern Europe and northern Asia; established in 1922; included Russia and 14 other soviet socialist republics (Ukraine and Byelorussia an others); officially dissolved 31 December 1991

Formerly the largest Soviet Socialist Republic in the USSR occupying eastern Europe and northern Asia

A former empire in eastern Europe and northern Asia created in the 14th century with Moscow as the capital; powerful in 17-18th centuries under Peter the Great and Catherine the Great when Saint Petersburg was the capital; overthrown by revolution in 1917

A federation in northeastern Europe and northern Asia; formerly Soviet Russia; since 1991 an independent state