They want a federal state. But if Kiev is not prepared to negotiate a new compact, independence is an option.
If Russia makes a move on Ukraine and tries to take it over, they better be prepared for lots of guerilla warfare by the Ukrainians, picking off the Russians one by one or more. The Ukrainians are very good at this as they have been occupied first by the Commies and then by the Fascists, and then by the Commies again. Putin will have his hands full which is why I think he’s been holding back and trying to achieve the same ends by having internal Ukrainian Russians fight his fight for him, with Putin’s aid on the QT of course.
Will be interesting to see what happens, but the Ukraine isn’t going to put up with Putin taking over its last deep water ports, leaving them landlocked. Will be interesting to see how this all plays out.