The tragic story here is that I genuinely believe that Russia belongs IN Europe. They're a European country.
And despite all the massive problems they had during the 90's, with the piratization of the soviet monopolies and the rise of the oligarchy, it seemed possible for a few years.
I think the younger generation can see it and aspire to it. The old generation longing for the Soviet Union are irredeemable and we will have to wait for their natural demise, as we will have to wait for Putin's more likely than not natural death to maybe see some change.