German foreign policy is negatively assessed by Russians, but they do not expect further deterioration in relations.

MOSCOW, September 18, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the results of the survey devoted to the Russian assessments of the current Russian-German relations, their prospects and the role of Germany in Europe.

Russians are still quite ambiguous assessing Germany-Russia relations. Certain respondents treat Germany as Russia`s strategic and economic partner (29%); others think Germany is Russia’s rival and competitor (26%). More opposite opinions are less frequent: 13% believe that Germany is Russia’s ally; 17% - Russia`s opponent. %.

What brings two nations together is common economic interests (12%) and trade relations (6%). The main obstacle that hampers further rapprochement is the impact that the U.S. and the E.U. have on Germany; importantly, today more Russians think so than two years ago (30% in 2015 vs 55 in 2013).

The situation in Ukraine is seen as a basis for fruitful cooperation (10%), on the one hand, and as a factor of discord (13%), on the other hand. Three-third of Russians believe that the Ukrainian crisis could be resolved if Germany put pressure on the Kiev authority (74%), and helped weaken or lift sanctions imposed against Russia (72%). Most of respondents consider that Germany should provide assistance to DPR and LPR (67%). A further 49% think that the OESD observer mission in Ukraine should be strengthened.

According to Russians, today Germany plays a role of peacekeeper (44%; 34% in 2014), rather than aggressor (31%; 37% in 2014). At the same time, about half of Russians (45%) think that Germany’s policy is isolationist (45%). Thirty-four percent of Russians think that Germany is defender that advocates Europe`s interests before other countries. As before, German economic policy is assessed in a negative manner: every second Russian (49% in 2015 and 47% in 2014) blame this country for being exploiter; fewer Russians (28%) believe that Germany is a financial donor for weak European countries.

In the political arena Germany is perceived as a U.S. follower, rather than an autonomous actor. Two-thirds of Russians (66%) are confident that German foreign policy depends dramatically on American political course; this share has increased over a year from 61% (in 2014). They are opposed by 22% of respondents.

More Russians assess the future of German-Russian relations positively, than it was a year ago: 26% of respondents predicted deterioration in relations in 2014 compared to 13% today. Simultaneously, the number of those who forecast improvements in relations between the two countries has grown up (from 26% to 32%, respectably).  Thirty-eight percent of Russians believe that in two or three years Germany and Russia will be interacting in the same way as today.

The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted September 12-13, 2015; 1600 respondents were interviewed in 132 settlements in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%. 

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!