Russian doesn’t have the definite article either, right? So it can’t be a Soviet mind game. In fact “the Ukraine” was common throughout the 19th century (check

Russian doesn’t have the definite article either, right? So it can’t be a Soviet mind game. In fact “the Ukraine” was common throughout the 19th century (check ngrams.google.com). I intend to continue saying “Kiev”. I also pronounce the S in Paris. I don’t like the trend that a country’s rulers are allowed to tell us all how to pronounce/spell its name. Slava Ukraini!