You sound like the people who insist it's Kyiv not Kiev
Examples:
Deutchland - Germany, Allemagne, Doitsu
Nederland - Niederland, Pays-Bas, Netherlands
Zhōngguó - China,
Nippon - Japan, Iapana
Munchen - Munich, Monaco
I can go on, but this phenomenon of prescribing the English word for a proper noun is very recent, and disrespectful of the long, native English (and very much world-wide) culture.
English is not common property any more than Persian is.
So, no: its Kiev [ and Ayers Rock :) ] when speaking English- that's if other people's cultures matter.
I guess, when not speaking English, you speak Russian, "tovarisch major".
In any case it seems more respectful IMO to call a place the name by which it would be most recognized by that place's inhabitants. Practically, however, I learned the word 'Kiev' first, and 'Kyiv' just now, so Kiev it is.
Framing the differences here as disrespecting other people's culture is a bit of a stretch, though.
What would you call the insulting hysteria that occurs when an English speaker doesn't change his language and culture to use some foreign-language word for a place?
You'll notice no one goes around demanding a billion Chinese change from 'Měiguó' to the 'USA'. Hell, even the Germans get away with calling 'Beijing' Peking.
Its just the poor, down-drodden Anglos. :)
There is no "poor Anglos", we are cultural assholes too
As a french, this one caught me off guard. Didn't help that you used the french word as second alternative on first ones, but til that in italian Munich is called "Monaco di Baviera". Now I wonder what's in common between those two cities..