Following the recent events it really surprises me how much hostility there is in Russia against the rest of Europe, including their closest neighbors such as Ukraine, and despite the fact that the old communist regime is already long gone. Was it like this before the communists took over? Is there some sort of historic trend that keeps perpetuating Russia's self-isolation from the rest of Europe?
In Russian cultural studies, this is the enduring question: Is Russia European, Asian, or something else entirely? The Russian heartland has always been (geographically, technologically, culturally) on the fringe of Europe (at best), separated from the latter by distance and lack of great population density (if not in Russia proper, then in the intervening space). It was also long subject to attack and harassment from "Asia," the Mongols being the best example. This left its mark on the Russian cultural landscape: Russia long considered itself the protector of Europe from the "barbarian hordes" to its east on the steppes, and this both added to and detracted from a sense of a European identity. It at once separated itself from the "barbarians" and put itself into the civilized European sphere, but also made Russia superior to and apart from Europe in that it served as the latter's protector. As can be seen here, one major theme in Russian cultural studies is dichotomy. It's "us vs. them," "good vs. evil," "light vs. darkness," "European vs. Asian" (though in this last example, at least, there is some wiggle room in that there is a significant field of writing suggesting that a Russian identity is an amalgamation of European, Asian, and homegrown influences).
To move into a more historical field, I would suggest that Russia has never been closer to to the West/Europe, not even under the westernising influences of Peter the Great. But that doesn't answer your question. While having contact with Europe beginning in earnest in the 17th century, Russia did indeed remain politically and culturally insulated from the trends and movements in Europe proper. There was no liberal revolution or enlightened monarchy. The industrial era came late to Russia, as did modern education and literacy programs. Russia did play a significant role in international politics beginning in the early 18th century with Peter the Great (the Partitions of Poland, the Congress of Vienna, the Holy Alliance, the Crimean War, fights against the Ottomans to "protect" Southern Slavs, the World Wars, superpower status as the USSR, etc.). For some time, it was quite like its partners in the Holy Alliance, a large country ruled by an emperor with absolute power. But the unique challenges it faced and its political culture/history took it on a divergent political path from Europe. As monarchies were breaking down (in the face of nationalism in Austria-Hungary's case) during and after WWI, Russia faced revolution and civil war of ideologies. After the Bolsheviks won their final victory, Russian politics and political culture remained more or less frozen for the next 75 years. The politics of today's Russia can not be ascribed merely to the influence of the Soviet Union, though. A theme of Russian culture and politics going back to Muscowy is the dual personality of the leader. He was the strong man protecting the people, ruling with an iron fist and imposing whatever oppressions and restrictions on his people he deemed necessary to protecting them. But he was also tsar batyushka (царь батушка), "Papa Tsar", the loving leader adored by all, a good Christian and gentle ruler who looked out for the people and had their best interests at heart. Most every ruler has had these characteristics from Ivan IV "the Terrible" all the way through to Putin. And one can see this in Putin today: Internationally condemned for being a strongman who suppresses individual rights and freedoms, but loved by many Russians for what he has done.
I'd suggest that the prominence of the leader in Russian political culture runs contrary to the collective politics that have come to prominence in the West in the past couple centuries especially, which has naturally created conflict. Its culture, not being subject to the common influences of Western cultures, simply developed independently, and, as I've indicated, Russia has always been culturally detached from the West.
James Billington's The Icon and the Axe: An Interpretive History of Russian Culture is a great review of Russian culture and especially culture in the context of history.
If there's interest, I can post the syllabus of an introductory-level university course on Russian culture from a few years ago, which has great resources for further reading.
Is there some sort of historic trend that keeps perpetuating Russia's self-isolation from the rest of Europe?
The problem with your question is that Europe was never united prior the end of WW2 (for the West) and fall of the Eastern block (for the whole).
Russia was left out of the Eurointegration process in the 90's which resulted in the ambition of reconstructing the old Empire. This ambition is not accepted by members of the EU which is what creates current tension.