MOSCOW, February 10, 2010. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning Russian-Ukrainian relations and opinion of Russians about the perspectives of cooperation between two countries in the future.

During the recent 10 years assess of Russian-Ukrainian relations has become negative: the quantity of respondents who gave them positive assess went down more than five times (from 50% in 2000 to 9% in current year). At the same time the number of people who consider relations between Russia and Ukraine to be negative trebled (from 22% to 65%). The group of Russians whose assess is neutral remained relatively stable (19-22% during the whole period of survey).

Negative assess to the Russian-Ukrainian relations is given in the first place by the supporters of Communist and Liberal Democratic Parties (66%), absentees,(72%), inhabitants of North-Western and Urals districts (73 and 71%). Positively they are seen mainly by the inhabitants of Urals (23%). Supporters of "Just Russia" and ‘United Russia' (25% and 27%) and inhabitants of Central district consider relations between two states to be neutral.

Russians want Ukraine to be ally of our country (60%). This point of view is maintained by the supporters of Communist Party and ‘Just Russia' (73% and 72%) and those who assess current relations between countries as bad or neutral (61-62%). The second popular point of view consists in desire to see Ukraine as strategic and economic partner of Russia, 27% of respondents considering so, as a rule, are the supporters of Liberal Democratic Party and absentees (by 29%) Russians who prefer Ukraine to be a rival of our country or even probable opponent are in the minority (4 and 1%).

The older respondents the more frequent they express their opinion that Ukraine should be an ally of Russia (64-67% among Russians older 45 years and only 52-53% among those who younger 34 years). Russians under 44 years more often want to see Ukraine as strategic and economic partner (30-31% vs. 23% among respondents older 45 years).

The future of Russian-Ukrainian relations in general is seen positively: relative majority of respondents think that they become normal (44%), 28% of respondents are sure that sooner or later relations will be even friendly. Those who expect the worsening of relations are in the minority (9%). It is worth mentioning that if in 2005 opinions were practically the same, in 2006 against the gas crisis background Russians rather expected the worsening of relations (35%).

Optimistic assess of Russian-Ukrainian relations in the first place is given by those who consider them to be neutral or good (34-37%), and elderly people (36%). Respondents who think that relations are good and Russians of 35-44 years are more careful with forecast (50%). Negative expectations belong to people with negative current assess or relations between countries (11%) and respondents under 44 years (11-12%).

The initiative Russian opinion poll was conducted on January 30-31, 2010. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4 %.

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