FWIW, in German it's actually used with the definite article since.. forever I guess and maybe it's the same in other languages. I happen to know you don't use

FWIW, in German it's actually used with the definite article since.. forever I guess and maybe it's the same in other languages. I happen to know you don't use "the Ukraine" in English, but it's a hard habit to shake off - so this may not even be a case of any propaganda. (Just looked up the wikipedia article and there's also no mention of this being applicable, but you know, wikipedia...)