Regarding that $15 billion that Russia had wanted to loan Ukraine before Euromadian happened....

[Benton D Struckcheon]

1. The Eurasian Economic Union

It's a pretty meaningless union without Ukraine. With it, it gets some heft. That was what Putin wanted.
That and of course keeping them out of the EU.
Despite the economy not doing great this year, and especially now after the Crimea annexation and the ongoing stuff now, Russia is actually very well governed from the POV of its national budget and the reserves it had on hand to defend the ruble. Less so now, and if he does actually do something that invites more sanctions, most of those reserves will evaporate. I'm pretty sure that's part of what's keeping him from actually moving into the east.
That, and he may know enough about chess to know what's meant by the saying "The threat is often worse than the execution."