Flag of UkraineUkraine (green); territories currently occupied by Russia (light green).Changes to the territory and administrative boundaries of the Ukraine 1921–1994
Borrowed fromPolishUkraina orRussianУкраи́на(Ukraína), fromOld East Slavicоукраина(ukraina), which is most commonly taken to have meant "borderland,marches" in this context, though for about a century now Ukrainian scholars have articulated an alternative theory that it meant "region, country, the land around (a given center)" in this context instead. SeeName of Ukraine for more.
Since the country's independence in 1991, style guides recommendUkraine (as in “a musician from Ukraine”), without an article. Previously, the most common usage wasthe Ukraine (as in “a musician from the Ukraine”).[1][2] One reason why Ukrainians suggest their country's English name should not be addressed asthe Ukraine is due tothe Ukraine making it sound like it was a part of Russia, promoting Russian irredentist views.
^Tom Geoghegan (2012 June 7) “Ukraine or the Ukraine: Why do some country names have 'the'?”, inBBC News Magazine[1], archived fromthe original on28 October 2016
L’Ukraine a toujours aspiré à être libre : mais étant entourée de la Moscovie, des états du grand-seigneur, et de la Pologne, il lui a fallu chercher un protecteur, et par conséquent un maître dans l’un de ces trois états. Elle se mit d’abord sous la protection de la Pologne qui la traita trop en sujette : elle se donna depuis au Moscovite, qui la gouverna en esclave autant qu’il le put. D’abord les Ukrainiens jouirent du privilège d’élire un prince sous le nom de général ; mais bientôt ils furent dépouillés de ce droit, et leur général fut nommé par la cour de Moscou.
Ukraine has always aspired to be free: but being surrounded by Muscovy, the states of the Sultan, and Poland, a protector had to be sought, and consequently a master in one of these three states. She first put herself under the protection of Poland, who treated her too much as subject. She then gave herself to the Muscovite, who governed her as a slave as much as he could. At first the Ukrainians enjoyed the privilege of electing a prince under the name of general; but soon they were stripped of this right, and their general was appointed by the court of Moscow.
Normally used with the definite article. Very occasionally,Ukraine occurs without a definite article; in such cases a genitiveUkraines may occur. In such usages, the gender is unclear.
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