Ukraine needs to first and foremost do what Russia did back in the 90s...put its oligarchs on a very short leash, or toss them out of the country for good. It was corrupt with Yanukovich but has turned into a complete kleptocracy, the Somalia of Europe. Crime is way up, arrests down and ultra nationalists with a soft spot for the "old ways" (direct violence and intimidation) possess their own now heavily armed militias. If the Russians seriously wanted to invade, it would take 72 hours, tops. Instead, I get the feeling the Russians are happy to be rid of the place. The Europeans and even the US are fed up with the total lack of reform. Canada shares a border (more or less) with Russia, so it's only logical that relations on that front will always be far more important.