The East Slavs are a group of Slavic peoples primarily located in Eastern Europe, including the Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians. They share linguistic and cultural ties, with languages belonging to the East Slavic branch of the Slavic language family. Historically, the East Slavs have played a significant role in the development of the region, with their roots tracing back to the early medieval state of Kievan Rus'. This cultural heritage continues to influence their modern identities and relationships with one another and neighboring nations.