Then what you are thinking of may be more possible to achieve. Although it would have its own problems. To achieve anything in Ukraine at this point we need to take small, precise and strong steps to challenge the current order and bring about something better. These are definitely ideas worth considering. Democracy made Greece fall to Romans.
Democracy definitely makes for a weaker nation, particularly when it's small.
There is a definite trend towards authoritarianism among all of them. And if they are doubting that democracy is not necessarily the best way out of the rut they are in - they may be right. Democracy should not be a holy cow that it has become that no one can criticize. Firstable, criticism implies an engaged analysis. And second, if we think we have arrived to an optimal model of human societal organization with democracy we are not very far-sighted.