Which language is closer to the Russian language?

Ukrainian is the closest language to Russian. Ukrainian and Russian are considered separate languages, but they are mutually intelligible to a certain extent. This means that speakers of one language can understand the other language to some degree, even though they are not identical. Some of the differences between Ukrainian and Russian include the use of different pronunciations, vocabulary, and grammar rules. Additionally, Ukrainian has been more heavily influenced by Western European languages, such as Polish, while Russian has been more heavily influenced by Eastern European languages, such as Turkish. Overall, Ukrainian and Russian are closely related languages, but they are not identical.