There wasn’t much support in the very beginning - sure, some javelins and NLAWs. Whether they were the difference maker is unclear.

I see a lot of American “free thinkers” (who all think the same) push the argument that it was US provocations that lead to the war.

While there are many many many (many…) counters to that, I will let the russians themselves offer their counter. Check out Putin’s essays on Ukraine - he (and the majority of russians) hold a deep belief that Ukraine is just part of russia, and that it should be returned to russia.

As far as picking friends - who is giving military aid to help repel an aggressor, and who is killing, raping, torturing civilians?

Can you detail what you mean by "US-instigated provocation". As far as I understand the only provocation is helping show with Ukraine that ethnic/cultural Rus people can live and indeed prosper in a democratic society, so the ills of Russia are demionstrably Putin-mafia induced.