Not sure I'd put both Russia and the West on the same level here, Russia literally invaded and annexed parts of Ukraine. It sucks though
I assume a lot of the appeal to Westerners visiting Ukraine is they are effectively much richer than back home.
Some blame NATO expansion as "triggering" Russia, but honestly, what does Russia expect after occupying Eastern Europe for 50 years. Those Eastern European countries don't want a return to that. Harsh, autocratic Soviet policies guaranteed antagonism.
So from a geopolitical standpoint, they are kind of between a rock and a hard place. The west wants to sanction Russia and Russia wants to show it is still a formidable force as well as needs to have a deep water port in the black sea.