Poll: number of Ukrainians that have positive attitude to Russia growing

17:09

The number of Ukrainians that have a positive attitude about Russia has grown, as has the number of Russians that have positive feelings about Ukraine, according to a new survey.

Kyiv International Institute of Sociology in Ukraine conducted a national poll in Ukraine, while the Levada Center carried out a matching survey in Russia. The results were released on Thursday.

According to the poll by Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, some 92% of Ukrainians have positive feelings about Russia, moreover, their number has grown by 4% (from 88% to 92%) since 2008.

Only 6% of those polled have negative attitude about Russia and some 3% of the respondents failed to answer.

In addition, the number of Ukrainians who want to have closed borders, customs, and visas with Russia increased from 8% in January 2010 to 12% in June. Most Ukrainians still want to have independent, but friendly ties with Russia without customs and visas (70%). The number of such answers grew by 4% (from 66%) since January.

At the same time, the number of Ukrainians wishing to unite with Russia in one state decreased from 22% in January 2010 to 16% in June 2010.

According to the poll conducted by the Levada Center, since January the number of Russians who have positives attitude about Ukraine grew by 14%, (from 52% to 66%). The number of those who have negative feelings dropped: there were 37% of such answers in January 2010 and 23% in May 2010. Some 11% of those polled failed to answer.

In Russia, unlike in Ukraine, the number of those wishing to have closed borders, customs, and visas with Ukraine decreased from 25% in January 2010 to 17% in May 2010.

The number of Russians wishing Ukraine and Russia to be independent, but friendly states without customs and visas grew from 55% in January to 64% in May. The number of Russians supporting the unification of Russia and Ukraine practically remained that same – 14% in January, and 13% in May.

Kyiv International Institute of Sociology conducted the survey in Ukraine on June 11-20, 2010. A total of 2,028 respondents aged over 18 took part in the poll in all regions of Ukraine and Crimea The poll's margin of error does not exceed 2.3%.

The Levada Center conducted the survey in Russia on May 21-25, 2010. A total of 1,610 respondents aged over 18 were polled in 127 populated areas of Russia. The poll's margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.