>>>>I wonder if its because 'the Ukraine' sounds as if it is part of another country (as in 'the Rockies', 'the Cotswolds' etc.) with its associations of the USSR.
>>>>OTOH we have 'The Netherlands" and the Dutch don't seem to object to that......
>>>
>>>They must hold the record for most names for one country. They are known as both The Netherlands and Holland and are also called the Dutch.
>>
>>Uh no. Not if this site is accurate:
>>
>>To review: this country is the Netherlands, its people are Dutch, they speak Dutch. There is no country called Holland, but there are provinces of North and South Holland.
>>
>>http://www.cgpgrey.com/blog/the-difference-between-holland-the-netherlands
>
>Still doesn't stop many of the Dutch to mention their country as Holland. Just like many people say England when they mean the UK.

Great summary...it even got me confused :)