• SomeGuy69@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        0
        ·
        4 months ago

        Thanks for pointing it out. I always write “the Ukraine” because it’s how we write it in my native language. I didn’t even know in English the article is used for non sovereign counties. It’s really hard to avoid the extra article here, as in for example German, we use “the Ukraine” exclusively, as it’s female. It’s the same with the Netherlands, the Turkey, the Switzerland. Never even heard before this could imply denying sovereignty.

        • DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          0
          ·
          edit-2
          4 months ago

          In English it implies it’s a geographical region rather than a nation’s name. The exceptions are for nations that have an adjectival element. The United States, The Democratic Republic of Wherever, etc.

          It’s petty semantics that passes by most, but the people that translate Russian official statements in English are aware of the difference and made a point of it for decades specifically to attack Ukraine’s standing in America and the Commonwealth.

          Generally speaking, it’s a minor enough distinction that no one would care if Russia didn’t.

      • Wiz@midwest.social
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        0
        ·
        4 months ago

        Yeah, the “the” is Russian propaganda, intended to strip Ukraine if its sovereignty.

    • takeda@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      4 months ago

      It is actually Reddit policy about threatening violence and harm to others. But it is silly, because that’s the article title. Perhaps it was removed by automation?