Madam, – How long does Ukraine have to exist as an independent state before people stop calling it “the Ukraine”? John Palmer (Analysis, December 13th) is the latest offender in an otherwise excellent piece. A Ukrainian friend drew my attention to this archaic habit after a recent Nationwide programme on links between Ireland and Ukraine.
We don’t refer to “the France” or “the Germany”, yet Ukraine is an independent European country larger than both. – Yours, etc,