A minor motto / rule of thumb I have is: when confronted with two options without a criterion to arbitrate by (although in this case the name as used in the Constitution is a pretty good criterion), choose the third option. It seems other people have this rule too, as shown by the option to the giff/jiff pronunciation argument of 'zheef'. So I propose *a/an* Ukraine, seeing that means 'borderland' according to BBC article Robert linked. Edit: It seems there is agreement that geography and political category tend to induce articles: http://shar.es/OqXYU<http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/country-names-and-%E2%80%9Cthe%E2%80%9D-the-ukraine-or-ukraine>
As for pluralizing datum, most scientists can overlook common variations as long as you do not say "datas". -Arlo James Barnes
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