Final answer:
Option (d), Russia would not fall in the category of Eastern countries European sailors were trying to reach for trade, as it was not part of the Eastern trade routes sought after during the age of exploration.
Step-by-step explanation:
European sailors during the age of exploration were trying to get to the East to trade directly with countries such as India, Japan, and China. The country that would NOT fall in this category is Russia, as it was not part of the direct Eastern trade routes that European merchants and explorers were seeking.
Europeans began to seek all-water, oceanic routes to avoid the challenges and costs associated with overland trade routes, leading to significant discoveries and the initiation of a new era of Atlantic exploration, primarily led by Portugal and followed by Spain.