I would agree with hempy. They can take back the lot of their former States, they are mostly all corrupt failed states in their own rights, and why would we want anything to do with them? (Other than energy-but we should be looking to reduce our dependence on Russian has anyways)
So, if I've understood you correctly, you're saying that the only reason that we 'need' the-former-Soviet-but-now-independent states is for their energy reserves? So if we let Russia 'take back the lot of [its] former states', we'd be
more dependent on Russian energy, rather than less. Genius!