Russia has much to learn from the European experience - and not only Russia but the rest of the world. But there is a big difference! The emerging Russian states that rose from the ashes of the old USSR is not fired up with same ultra-nationalism that motivates the individual European nations that comprises the present day Federation of United Europe. The Americans was the first nation in history to successfully put up a federal government and the American experience was widely copied in the constitutions of the world during the last two centuries. But a federation form of government is totally a new concept of government in world politics and in this respect, Europe leads and has much to teach the world. The difference between a federal government and a federation is the degree of control the federal government has over the member states. Generally, a federal government exercises a greater degree of control over the state government than a federation. In a federation, the exact opposite prevails. In a federation, the federal government has a much less degree of control over the state governments than a federal government. In a federation, the principle of equality of all member states is the most overriding concern. How unity could be achieved when each of the member states in a federation are completely sovereign and are endeavoring to increase such sovereignty and independence as the decades pass by is the principle problem of a government organized under the aegis of federationalism. In a federal government it is generally conceded that the federal government is supreme over the state government although the state government is given wide latitude to conduct its affairs independently in accordance with the Constitution.
Although Russia has much to learn from the European experience, the situation in Russia is vastly different from the situation in Europe. The Russian Constitution, in my opinion, is adequate for the needs of the entire former Russian empire.
The United States tried the "federated states" concept with the "articles of confederation" which preceded our constitution. It was obvious that a simple confederation of member states would not survive and would have fallen easily to the British, French even the Spanish if they had only the time and determination to test it. In short we're lucky to be here at all.