Russians See US-Russia Ties As 'Hostile' In New Poll; Russian Agression In Ukraine Bolsters Unity In West

Anti-U.S. sentiment in Russia has risen to a record high in 25 years as Russians continue to have a negative view of the West. A recent poll revealed that the people of Russia also have a negative opinion of the European Union.

Levada Centre, a non-governmental research organisation based in Moscow, conducted the survey based on international guidelines. It said anti-American sentiment had risen in the past 12 months with four out of five Russians disliking the U.S. The new poll also showed that more than two thirds of Russians have no positive feelings towards the European Union, reports the Moscow Times.

Levada director and sociologist Lev Gudkov said resentment levels had increased to record levels since the organisation began conducting surveys on Russians since 1988. According to the survey, negative attitudes toward the U.S. rose to 81 percent in recent weeks from just 44 percent in Jan. 2014. The organisation polled 1,600 Russians in 134 cities and towns.

About 42 percent of Russians see the relationship between the U.S. and Russia as hostile in the recent poll compared to only 4 percent last year. Russian dislike for the EU has doubled in the last few weeks as 71 percent now have a negative sentiment. Almost half or 48 percent believe Russia’s ties with Ukraine have grown hostile as the crisis deepened in 2014.

The Levada poll revealed that more Russians are favouring China with 78 percent of respondents reported having a positive attitude towards the world’s largest economy. About 36 percent felt Russia should move farther away from the West.

Some Russians viewed the U.S. as a competitor or an “opponent.” Despite the country’s economic woes, 80 percent of Russians expressed their support for President Vladimir Putin in recent polls.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine has only strengthened the unity of the West as the U.S. and E.U. weigh in the possibilities of pursuing a peace plan to stop the conflict. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Mr Obama has declared the U.S. might send weapons to arm Ukraine to boost its military defences if a new round of peace talks fails.

While the U.S. president has yet to make a decision on the matter, the Obama administration is considering options to help Ukraine face “Russian aggression.” Ms Merkel and other European leaders had earlier expressed their objection to arming Ukraine, according to ABC.

The U.S. has limited its current assistance to Ukraine with the provision of non-lethal supplies and equipment such as gas masks and communications technology. However, if Mr Obama decides to send Ukraine weapons, military experts believe the U.S. could send anti-tank missiles, armored vehicles and the Javelin weapon system.

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