My reasoning is this: Russia, though still saddled with ideas left over from Communism and (even worse) liberal democracy, has a system amenable to the rise of strong leaders independent of popular opinion or current moneyed elites. This gives them a chance -- though, as I said, a slim chance -- of breaking free toward self-determination.

Ukraine, on the other hand, like the United States, is a society "led" by careerist functionaries dependent on the support of the rubes and the money-men who control the rubes. Thus, the chances of a real leader arising there, one who would defy the money-men and free his people, is much lower than even in Russia.