"Ukraine can't gain true independence without American hegemony."

Ukraine can't have true indepence with American hegemony. That is what hegemony means. The issue is that BRICS is resisting US hegemony. That is what this war is all about.

Even if (and I seriously doubt this will happen) NATO intervenes and pushes Russia out, Ukraine will not be sovereign.

The US has been choosing Ukraine's leaders since the 2014 coup. After the war Ukraine will owe 10s of billions of dollars to US multinationals. Unless Ukraine is completely overrun by Russia, US troops will be stationed in whatever remain to make sure those loans are paid back.

Just like after WWII in all NATO countries, there is no independence.