I don't have specific answers to your questions, but I do have something to add to the conversation that will help, perhaps, to clarify matters.

To a large extent, this is about oil/gas and money. The Khazars/Zionists have cornered the Leviathan deposit in the Mediterranean, and seek to monopolize Europe's market. They essentially stole Greece's mineral rights to the deposit off their shore by giving them a pittance cash settlement. The fly in the ointment? Syria won't let Israel build the pipeline across their land. That's where the U.S. and Russia get involved, one trying to defeat Assad, the other supporting him, ISIS, separatists, etc., etc.

Where is the oil/gas pipeline hub to Europe? Crimea. The Khazars in Ukraine were making life miserable for the Crimeans to force them to concede, Russia saw through their game, and annexed it in 2014. Russia doesn't want to lose their main source of revenue.

The biolabs, ethnic Russians in the eastern provinces, those are relevant, too.

Now, why are Repubs backing Ukraine, against big, bad, Russia? Either they are DS, or they are keeping the charade going on as long as possible. My two cents...