The Ukraine has had almost exactly the same amount of time as Hungary has had to improve itself and throw off the Communist shackles. One has succeeded, because it hasn’t been ruled by one corrupt regime after another and pandering to the globalist oligarchs to serve as criminal states for them, the other has summarily failed because it has. Even when America pumps billions to it (most of which is going to said criminals), it still remains a corrupt basketcase.
If “The Ukraine” wanted to improve, it could do so, but it hasn’t, and it never will, because like the old adage goes, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome is the definition of insanity. Russia reclaiming its historic (pre-1991) territory could not possibly do a worse job of ruling it if it tried (short of returning to its Communist roots). Reminds me of countless cities in America that keep electing one Demonrat Communist after another and folks act shocked why it not only doesn’t improve, but gets worse every 4 years. Zelensky was just the latest political fraud to sell the voters a bill of goods, like every Demonrat Mayor in America. Only, at least, said Mayors haven’t suspended elections and declared themselves Dick Tator... yet.
Ukraine had no socio-cultural memory of a pre-Soviet “normal” state of affairs. Especially not a positive one. Go read Maxim Gorki.
Hungary did, Poland did (somewhat), etc.