“The Ukraine” is a region that includes portions of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova.
Ukraine is one of the above listed countries and it includes portions of the Ukraine, Crimea, and portions of what had once been eastern Poland.
Trivia: “The Ukraine” in the past has also been used interchangeably with White Russia and Western Russia.
Yes. I understand adding “the” changes it to a regional description. Still doesn’t mean I have to love them like my own family.