MOSCOW – A little over one third of Russians (35%) believe Russia’s relations with Ukraine should be the same as with other countries – with closed borders, visas and customs, Interfax was told at Levada Center.
However, every other respondent (50%) is sure Russia and Ukraine should be independent but friendly states with open borders, without visas or customs.
In addition, 9% of respondents said that Russia and Ukraine should unite in one state.
On the whole, 26% of Russians hold a good attitude to Ukraine (41% a year ago), 59% (44%) a bad attitude. In addition, 15% were undecided in a poll conducted on May 19-22 among 1,600 adults living in 137 cities and towns in 48 regions of Russia.
According to sociologists, 78% of Russians follow developments in Ukraine in one way or another.
Only 10% of those polled believe that the situation in Eastern Ukraine will improve during the coming year. About a quarter (23%) make pessimistic forecasts while 53% think the situation will remain unchanged.
