Hacker News Reader

The Ukranian language, like many Slavic languages, does not have definite/indefinite articles at all. In other words, the word "the" does not exist in Ukranian.

A lot changed since a few years ago, I wonder if those same people might have a preference now

I had it explained to me The Ukraine comes from "The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic" So its offensive as it doesn't acknowledge their new country.

During the Cold War it was always "THE Ukraine". So, this is plausible.

We also said “the USSR” and “the Soviet Union.”