But the idea of Ukraine as a sovereign state was never really on the table. Ukranians had a shot at picking their own master back in the '00s/'10s. And they might have found a Turkey/Saudi/Israeli style middle-ground, where they played Russia and America off one another for a better position at the Cheap Imports / Military subsidies negotiating table. But they were always doomed to be beholden to someone.

Yanukovych was trying this (libs saying he was Russian puppet are full of shit), but Yushchenko before him was typical comprador and i won't even mention the maidan gang.