Yuha O. The Political Elite of the Commonwealth and the "Ukrainian Problem": Finding Solutions (1648 - the First Half of 1659).

In the thesis, based on the complex analysis of sources and scientific literature, the ways of solving the "Ukrainian problem" by the political elite of the Commonwealth and the causes of its failure were researched. It is found that during the last third of the XVI - first half of the XVII century. among the crown elite there have been two main concepts of the solution of "the Cossack problems": the first was to find a compromise with the Cossacks, the second in his elimination. The process of transformation of the "Cossack problems" into "Ukrainian", which was prompted in the process of the revolutionary struggle of the Ukrainian state to achieve independence, the crystallization of the major groupings of the political elite: the radical and moderate their views in 1648 were described. The attempts to regulate the elite conflict with the Cossack Ukraine in 1649 - 1650 were found.