Ukrainian nationalists managed to help bring down the Soviet Union in our TL, though. Indeed, if it wasn't for Ukraine, some kind of union might have survived (true, the remaining SSRs were demanding extremely large devolution, but if the Union is still intact, power could possibly gradually be redirected back towards the Kremlin). Plus, this is not to mention that, without western Ukraine, Ukraine might have very well shifted back into Russia's orbit in 2013-2014 in our TL.
Basically, I am looking at a century-long viewpoint here; indeed, anything which helps to eventually bring down the Soviet Union, the better. (Also, I was thinking of adding Subcarpathian Ruthenia to the Soviet Union, but I was hoping that this could be done after the Stalin era was over. After all, I don't want the Ruthenians to suffer and prematurely putting them inside of the Soviet Union will accomplish just that with no gain (since the Ruthenians weren't particularly nationalistic)). Basically, while I'd like an independent Ukraine (and Belarus) to survive, I would consider this to be extremely unrealistic and thus I'd like to try setting the stage for these countries to regain their independence in the future (probably after 70 or more years).
Also, off-topic, but I realized that I should have mentioned that I would have made Lebanon smaller in this TL. Indeed, I would have limited Lebanon to the Christian-majority areas as well as to a strip which connects it to Palestine. As for the rest of Lebanon, it should join (Greater) Syria in this TL.