re: #153 Anymouse 🌹

Ukraine is the correct name of the country. The Ukraine was a Soviet styling.

Crimea is the correct name of the peninsula. Donbass is the correct name of the area of eastern Ukraine. Sudan is the correct name of the country; The Sudan was its colonial name.

On the other hand, The Gambia is the correct name for that nation.

Russian has no articles — how can “The Ukraine” be a “Soviet styling?”

Ukraina in Russian and Ukrainian is a common noun meaning borderland. The definite article in English turns it into a proper name, so we say “Canada,” but “The United States.” (BTW, “The Lebanon” is a carryover from Arabic, which uses an article before the names of countries.)