Yes and no about the Ukraine having its own language and customs. Both Russia and the Ukraine claim Kiev, now Kyiv, as the heartland of the slavic culture. The language differs slightly, but Russians and Ukrainians can understand each other. But the southern US and the western US have cultural and language differences. Our politicians refuse to recognize that Ukraine has been controlled by and part of Russia for over 300 years.
Yes but it’s not about Russia vs Ukraine. It’s about Soviet revivalism with Russian empire undertones (Putinism) … versus Westernism.
Whatever that means…
Speaking Ukrainian is kind of like Gaelic in Ireland, some speak it more for show than anything, but most Ukrainians mainly do speak Russian as their primary language.