Peril Cuba largely represented as one of USSR's vassals (8)
I believe the answer is:
republic
'one of ussr's vassals' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how one could define the other.
'peril cuba largely represented' is the wordplay.
'largely' means to remove the last letter (most but not all of the letters).
'represented' is an anagram indicator.
'peril'+'cuba'='perilcuba'
'perilcuba' with its last letter removed is 'perilcub'.
'perilcub' anagrammed gives 'REPUBLIC'.
'as' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for republic that I've seen before include "Commonwealth" , "The political system is an epic blur" , "Political system of government by the people" , "Non-monarchical state" , "State without monarch" .)