"Ukraine" vs "the Ukraine"

In response to our entry about Ukraine (formerly THE Ukraine), reader Sandy Ridlington wrote, "...thanks for clearing up the question of the article formerly used before 'Ukraine.' [My daughters] had a teacher from the Ukraine for years and she always left out the article, leading me to think she was just speaking pigeon English. How stupid of me! How provincial!"

How stupid and provincial of all of us. We doubt we will ever get used to saying just "Ukraine" (and you may have noticed that Ms. Ridlington hasn't, either!).