This is sort of a general post.
The Ukraine (I'm old enough to like the "the") has had a rough go of it. The western part is heavily Catholic, with a distinct accent, and Lviv (Lvov, Lwow ...) was Polish for a long time. And the western Ukraine was pro-Nazi when the Germans came through. But they're all East Slavic, by language if not always by blood. Like Belorussia and Russia. The standard language is more based on the eastern variant, which has fewer polonisms. Kiev was the center of Rus', the original seat of authority before the Golden Horde moved in.
Lots of Russians there: esp. in Kiev, even Odessa. Mostly in the cities and Russia-adjacent areas; not so much in the rest of the country, or the west. Even lots of Ukrainians were much better in Russian than Ukrainian, although it's true that they're mutually intelligible, given a little patience. I find it a bit hard to read, but easier than Polish.
As for Putin (I've been pondering this for a while), I don't see the problem. I seriously don't like some of what he does; but I certainly don't expect him to do things in the interest of the US. I think that a bit of the anti-US nationalism's petered out: they know their military's trashed, but nobody (but Islamists) have bothered to invade. Given that there are serious problems to be faced all along Russia's southern border, I'd rather have a strong state there than a weak one. (Although given Russia's demographics, it doesn't matter, they're so screwed.) But I don't see Russia spreading revolution like the USSR did.
And the Crimea was Russian, but out of "fraternal bonds" it was given to Ukraine before the breakup in '91. The Black Sea fleet was stationed there, and a low-grade international tussle occurred when Ukraine broke away--they tried to claim the fleet.
I agree and since the EU is pro islamic it would figure that they would want a weak Russia and a weak USA.