Hostility between Russia and Ukraine appears to have hit bizarre new heights after the two states became embroiled in a spat over Twitter.

Following talks between French President Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Putin on Monday, the Russian leader spoke about the historic links between the two countries by referring to Anna Yaroslavna, the wife of France's Henri I.

Image: Mr Putin prompted criticism after speaking about the ties between Russia and France

Critics saw Mr Putin's remarks as an attempt to blur the line between Russian and Ukrainian history, as the 11th century figure was born in Kievan Rus - the territory surrounding what is now the capital of Ukraine.

Taking issue with the Russian President's comment, Ukraine's official Twitter account posted a biography of Anna Yaroslavna along with a picture suggesting that Moscow resembled an empty wood at the time she became the French queen consort.

When @Russia says Anne de Kiev established Russia-France relations, let us remind the sequence of events pic.twitter.com/nBKhQdyKql — Ukraine / Україна (@Ukraine) May 30, 2017

Taking a diplomatic stance, Russia's official Twitter account countered that the country is "proud of our common history" with Ukraine and Belarus and that shared historical heritage "should unite our nations, not divide us".


@Ukraine We are proud of our common history. 🇷🇺, 🇺🇦 & 🇧🇾 share the same historical heritage which should unite our nations, not divide us. pic.twitter.com/hdmkuGy22p — РоссиЯ 🇷🇺 (@Russia) May 30, 2017

Included in its tweet was a picture of the Cathedral of St Sophia - a church it says was built in Veliky Novgorod between 1045 and 1050.

Chipping in to the debate, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Ukraine "don't be jealous", adding that in 1051 "Kiev was capital of the united Rus which included territories of modern Belarus, Ukraine and Russia".

@Ukraine @Russia Don't be jealous, @Ukraine. In 1051 Kiev was capital of the united #Rus which included territories of modern 🇧🇾, 🇺🇦 and 🇷🇺. pic.twitter.com/TMX5KiGAPl — MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) May 30, 2017

Hitting back with a GIF of Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock Holmes shaking his head, Ukraine advised its opponent that Kyivan Rus also stretched to modern day areas of Moldova, Slovakia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

It added: "Don't give the 'triune nation' nonsense please and comply with international law."

@mfa_russia @Russia @diplohistory Kyivan Rus stretched to modern-day areas of 🇪🇪 🇱🇹 🇱🇻 🇵🇱 🇸🇰 🇲🇩 too. Don’t give the “triune nation” nonsense pls and comply with int law pic.twitter.com/DVO9NToZiP — Ukraine / Україна (@Ukraine) May 30, 2017

In a direct response to Russia, Ukraine concluded the row by tweeting a GIF from The Simpsons that depicted a Russian official laughing while a name plate flipped from Russia to Soviet Union.

The tweet was captioned: "You really don't change, do you?"

While a number of Twitter users joked the spat could spark the start of World War Three, Ukrainian foreign minister Pavlo Klimkin warned it was a serious issue.

He tweeted: "The problem with Russia is not about trying to expropriate the figure of French Queen Anne of Kyiv but truly believing her to be Russian."