Russian history says otherwise.
What the Russians weren't counting on was Ukraine developing their own sense of independence.
And by trivial I mean in the larger sense. They do not supply the world with anything more vital than maybe a Nokia phone. They are not important for oil, transit, trade, etc. To me that is why they can afford to sit up there and elect a 30 year old woman as Prime Minister. That is simply not the act of a consequential people facing great challenges and carrying huge responsibilities.
“What the Russians weren’t counting on was Ukraine developing their own sense of independence.”
You do know Kiev was once the capitol of the land where now sits?