Начальство одобряэ: http://everything2.com/title/Countries+that+start+with+the+word+%2522the%2522
The Ukraine: In Russian, literally means 'the borderland'. while in Ukrainian, literally means 'the country'. Conveniently, this allows both countries to hold egocentric tendencies without offending each other. In English the definite article is sometimes removed.
Текст, конечно, доставляет. Про окраину и краину типа.