[NorseViking]

Yep, ‘borderland’, ‘a frontier’. Now think for a moment how would you call yourself living near US-Mexican border? I guess ‘borderlander’ doesn’t sound good. You’ll call yourself American or Mexican depending on your nationality. The same applies to Ukraine before 1920s.

[yldstrk]

It’s been the Ukraine since the 12th century.

[FreeReign]

Yep, ‘borderland’, ‘a frontier’. Now think for a moment how would you call yourself living near US-Mexican border? I guess ‘borderlander’ doesn’t sound good. You’ll call yourself American or Mexican depending on your nationality. The same applies to Ukraine before 1920s.

This is what I'm talking about.