As our readers doubtless know, I'm appalled by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and wish the Ukrainians the best. But on one matter I don't go along with what at least some Ukraine supporters argue: That we need to switch from "Kiev" to "Kyiv," and from saying "the Ukraine" to "Ukraine." If people want to do it, to show support for the Ukrainians or for some other reason, that's fine. But I don't think there's any obligation to do so, as a matter of linguistic rules or of good manners.
Likewise, the government of Turkey can certainly ask the UN to call the country "Türkiye," as it has recently done, and I can see why it might dislike the association with the bird, or with the figurative meaning "flop." But whatever the UN may choose to do for diplomatic reasons, I don't think any of us have an obligation to go along.
[1.] Let's start with the capital of Ukraine. We can say three things about it:
