Ukraine is a legitimate state and a nation, that is true by all accounts. However, history indicates that despite the development of national consciousness, Russia always saw Ukraine a lesser part of a greater Rus whole that they supposedly inherited.
Again, going back to the issue of realpolitik, with historical background being what it is, and the current capabilities of boh Ukraine and Russia, it is inevitable that Russian foreign policy will seek to dominate and absorb states like Ukraine that are considered to be both buffers and historical parts of their successive empires, first Tsarist, then Soviet.
Are we able to escape history then? Not very likely, as history shaped both current circumstances and the consciousness of both nations. Examples of Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland overlook the reality where these states existed within quite loose framework of Holy Roman Empire (which was neither Roman, holy, or an empire) and were able to secure sovereignty, while Ukraine formed and was molded by its existence within autocratic Russia, which never gave any quarter to its subjects. What Western models often overlook and assume is always generalized and then applied to the East without cultural translation or solid awareness of the background - a state without democratic tradition will not respect or care about creation of democracy in its neighborhood, hence constant frowning and demands that they behave according to Western standards is absurd, especially when Western hypocrisy is at all-time high.
Being caught between a rock and a hard place, Ukraine will struggle, while Russia will flex its muscle. It is not a matter of potential (which Ukraine has) but a matter of existing alignment of forces, which stifle that potential, and its unlikely that this will change as long as Russia is Russian.