Ukrainian language is well over a thousand years old.
For as far back as the history of the Slavic peoples can be documented, Ukrainian language and culture has been distinct from that of Russian culture. In fact, even the ancient Greeks recognized several distinct tribes living north of the Black Sea which were thought to have given rise to the various Slavic races. Culture flourished in Kiev for hundreds of years before Moscow was ever built. It is more consistent with historical facts to consider Russian language and culture to be a derivative of Ukrainian, and not the other way around. Ukrainians are proud of culture, their heritage, and their way of life.