On desk sat striking characters latterly somewhere in E. Europe (6)
I believe the answer is:
odessa
'europe' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both locations as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for odessa that I've seen before include "Battleship Potemkin mutiny port" , "Ukrainian location" , "Ukrainian Black Sea port" , "Do seas come into Ukrainian city?" , "Ukrainian naval base" .)