Russia is more interested in defending itself than influencing another nation. True influence comes naturally to more intelligent  people or nations... It's not imposed. It's like a father having great influence over his kid because he knows more than he does.  Such influence is also equal to power, the more influencial the more powerful one become.
As an influential person, if you support certain things because you know they are right, they work. If you are against something because it's wrong and it fails. It's basically you passing judgment based on how things naturally/spiritually works  and the judgement becomes true.
This natural influence is not like the influence people try to force or impose on people, especially through incentives, brainwashing, sanctions, etc.  You just do the right thing and it works.

The conflict in Ukraine is as a result of Russia defending herself, protect ger border and her people from nations/people with agenda to colonize, weaken or breakup her up.. This is basically why Donbas and Crimea were taken. They do not want to be part of system that despises Russia.. It's actually very risky for them to stay after a forceful removal of Pro-Russia President who believes that Ukraine is better off aligning with Russia than nations that are more interested in Russia's defeat and breakup.