When modern-day Ukraine was formed in 1990, it was majority Ukrainian, but with a sizable Russian (and smaller Romanian and Polish) minority. Over the next twenty or so years, this minority voted for parties and politicians that favoured stronger ties with Russia. In contrast, ethnic Ukrainians supported joining (or at least aligning with) the EU. This conflict came to a head in 2014, when the pro-Russian government was overthrown by pro-EU protestors. Relations between the two groups have worsened since then, leading to pro-Russian militants seizing power in the (Russian majority) Donbass and Crimea, and joining Russia.

isn’t France still part of Europe?

It is, it’s the UK that left (the EU, not the continent).

The Gelph-Ghibelline conflict was about secular monarchism vs religious authority. Im not sure I see the point you’re making.

That the conflict between feudal lords (French aristocrats / Ghibellines) and urban merchants (Guelph burghers / French Girondists) is much older than the French Revolution. The pope and emperor were the figureheads, but the lords and merchants were the power blocs.

The division of political ideologies into left and right derives from the French Parliament which had the monarchists on the right and the liberals on the left.

The names yes, but the basic conflict is much older, Europe itself had the Guelph-Ghibelline conflict.