a republic in southeastern Europe; formerly a European soviet; the center of the original Russian state which came into existence in the ninth century
"Ukraine is a republic in southeastern Europe that was once part of the Soviet Union and holds historical significance as the heartland of early Slavic states."
A country in Eastern Europe; was long part of the Russian Empire and Austro-Hungarian Empire, then of the Soviet Union.
"Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe that was historically part of the Russian Empire before becoming an independent nation after the collapse of the Soviet Union."
The name Ukraine comes from Old East Slavic ukraina, originally meaning "borderland" or "marches." While some scholars now suggest it referred more broadly to a region or the land surrounding a center, the traditional interpretation remains that it described a border area.