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Every second Russian negative attitude to the US and the EU. 56% of citizens do not feel sympathy for Ukraine. 41% of respondents generally refer to Western countries “without any feelings”. In a number of States that cause the Russians have positive emotions, — Belarus, China and Turkey. Such data results in its survey of “Levada-center” (document available at the disposal of “Izvestia”).
In January 2017, about a bad attitude towards the US said 49% of the population, by March the number had risen to 52%. The survey was conducted from 31 March to 3 April, before the Americans hit the Syrian air force base, which Russia interpreted as an act of aggression against a sovereign state. 37% of respondents at the beginning of the year and in the spring declared positive attitude to the States.
The EU also does not cause the Russians unambiguous emotions. So, his bad attitude, said the EU 53% of the citizens of the Russian Federation, and the positive response of the European community causes 36% of respondents “Levada-center”.
A negative attitude was formed from respondents to the Ukraine: 56% of citizens do not have sympathy for the state, 34% — said they treat him well.
But the attitude of Russian citizens to Belarus, on the contrary, improved. Last year the Federal government attracted 76% of Russians in 2017 and he is sympathetic to 79%. However, increased and the number of those who configured otherwise — the number of negative reviews increased from 7% to 13%.
Located the Russians and China (76%), only 13% said their attitude to China is “bad”. But regarding Turkey, opinion was divided: 47% of respondents said that they treat it positively, and 34% will test negative.
The West’s attitude to Russia
The attitude towards Russia in the West, the Russians estimate differently. Thus, 22% of Russian citizens believe that foreign governments look at Russia “with concern”, 21% of respondents believe that “fear”. Another 16% believe that “no special feelings”. With 33% of respondents said that “we are afraid”.
Another 19% of respondents answered that the West respect Russia, and 12% believe that hatred against the Russians in recent years have increased.
The sociologist “Levada-center” Karina Pipia noted that the negativity of the Russian population concerning, for example, Ukraine remains at the level peculiar to “postkrymsky” period, and reflects the idea of a crisis in the region.
— The dominant view remains that the West treats Russia with anxiety and fear. This is reinforced by a growing national consciousness concerning the power and greatness of the country. It reinforced the view that Russia and its people have more respect and less hate, said Karina Pipiya.
The President of the national strategy Institute Mikhail Remizov believes that the survey data reflect information and political agenda. Curious is just finding Turkey on a par with Belarus and China, to which the citizens are good, said the expert.
Mutual stereotypes in the relations between States are very long and don’t change on click. Our country was largely geopolitical opponents and remain with them, said Mikhail Remizov. — There is another factor that could influence the survey data: part of the country sees Turkey through the prism of political relations and through the prism of personal vacation plans.
Former Deputy UN Secretary General, diplomat Sergei Ordzhonikidze said that the negative attitude toward the United States was not only the Russians, but the majority of Europeans.
Americans in the world do not like because they use force. Once again their hypocrisy they demonstrate, for example, when negotiating in the Security Council about the need to investigate the reasons for the use of chemical weapons. Knowing that soon will strike in Syria. He’s not ready. For some reason, they arrogated to themselves the right to use force whenever you want, — said Sergei Ordzhonikidze.
The study of “Levada-center” was interviewed 1,6 thousand people from 137 communities in 48 regions of Russia. The study was conducted at the home of respondents by personal interview.