Europe is in the death throes of socialist, nanny-state, massive debt and central planning. Its immigration surge is a final last gasp attempt to support the immense weight of debt and social welfare by trying to prop up their dying demographics. Russia is indeed a distraction by Europe's socialist and soft-fascist elites and bankers to avoid showing people they themselves are the greatest threat to Europe.
Putin isn’t perfect but he seems determined to protect the interests of Russia and the Russian people (unfortunately, even when they live in neighboring countries). I see none of that patriotism in most Western European leaders...