I think the big problem for Ukraine at the moment is that it probably won't exist soon. Many calls for EURO membership, as usual, and even NATO membership, as always expected.
Ukraine has tried to use its critical position, and it is certainly in a critical position, to draw funds from both Russia and Europe over the decades and sometimes, like now, everyone gets sick of it. Ukraine needs to restructure its economy so that most of the economy is not bled away in corruption. The 'system' must change.
There is corruption in all states, but Ukraine really has 'made a meal' of it for a long time, playing on Russia's fear of the West, and on the West's fear of Russia to get every bit of money possible to give away to important people through corruption, rather than to actually run a country. It can't pay its Gas Bill to Russia. Germany can. Everyone else can, and Ukraine gets the cheapest gas of anyone. But both Ukraine and Germany still get masses of Russian gas. The Russians haven't turned off the gas...but they do expect Ukraine to pay the debt, and the debt is huge.
