For a given level of explanatory power, the simplest explanation is preferred.  Perhaps, coming from an entirely different perspective, the Russian Government and Gazprom executives think that the west will come to be annoyed with Ukraine and will put pressure on them, or even come to see a rationale for a reunion of the two countries in order to reunite the divided assets of Gasprom.  But how many European Union governments would countenance the re-adsorption of Ukraine by Russia?  And would even so drastic a step as that finally resolve the issue, especially if much of it does have to do with feuding oligarchs?  It would be like putting all of the fighting cats in one barrel.  My own sense is that this would never happen.  Perhaps the Russians see it differently.  That is how train wrecks happen.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."