MOSCOW, 29 April 2022. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a monitoring study on the Russian attitudes towards the countries of the European Union.

Numerous economic sanctions and unfriendly statements of the European politicians addressed to Russia have caused deterioration in the Russian attitudes towards the EU countries. Over the recent years the Russian sentiments regarding the EU countries have been rather peaceful: 55% of respondents had generally positive attitudes in 2018 and in 2021. In March this year, the number of those with positive perceptions cut in half: today only every fifth reports positive attitudes towards the EU countries, whereas the share of respondents with negative perceptions has increased from 27% to 64% over a year.

As foreign countries are “cancelling” Russia and the Russian people, the Russians consider that negative sentiments expressed towards Europeans are mutual: 69% of respondents believe that Europeans treat Russians negatively (38% in 2019). Emotional intensity of information warfare has influenced and strengthened extremely negative viewpoints: the number of Russians who are confident that the European residents perceive the Russian people negatively has increased fourfold compared to 2019 (24%).

Amidst such a discord there are those who remain optimistic: 18% believe that Europeans still have positive attitudes towards Russians. This share is close to the fifteen-year-old percentage when 23% were confident that Europeans perceived Russians in a positive way. Three years ago, in 2019, half of Russians shared this opinion (51%).

Over the recent twenty-five years an overwhelming majority of Russians have supported closer cooperation with the Western countries (82% in 1997; 84% in 1999; 74% in 2018). Today this share has dramatically declined (−28 p.p. in 2018). On the contrary, the percentage of those who support cutting political, cultural and economic ties with the West has risen due to aggravation in relations: distancing from the West is supported by 39% of respondents (+23 p.p.; 16% in 2018).

Russian nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted March 19, 2022. A total of 1,600 of Russians aged 18 and older took part in the survey. Results are based on telephone interviews. Stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers was used. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.