Every second Russian thinks that Moscow should respond to Kiev’s discriminatory policies towards Russian banks.
MOSCOW, April 5, 2017. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of a survey devoted to the recent Kiev’s decision.
Russians think that the Kiev authorities seek to aggravate the relationship with Moscow (10%) or to harm Russia (8%) by imposing sanctions against Russian banks. The Ukrainian authorities may also want to initiate a conflict (6%). But many respondents (54%) failed to express their point of view.
Half of Russians (50%) think that Moscow should take reciprocal measures. The possible measures might be retaliatory sanctions (21%), other strict measures (withdrawal of the branches of Russian banks from Ukraine – 5%, border closure – 3%, cessation of gas deliveries – 2%, et cet.). However, certain respondents propose to conduct negotiations (10%).
Simultaneously, 40% of Russians do not see any need to respond to the recent Kiev’s decision. Those who think so are mainly respondents aged 18-24 (58%), those who have incomplete secondary education (57%) and support the LDPR (58%).
The VCIOM-Sputnik initiative all-Russian survey was conducted on March 22-23, 2017, using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia, and involved 1200 respondents. Russians aged 18 and over took part in the survey. 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 3.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
The media has recently reported that Ukraine imposed sanctions against Russian banks banning their Ukrainian branches to withdraw money from Ukraine in favour of a related party. In your opinion, what do the Kiev authorities seek to achieve by imposing these sanctions? (open-ended question, not more than three answers, %) | |
| Total respondents |
To further aggravate the relationship with Russia | 10 |
To harm Russia | 8 |
Wars | 6 |
To keep money in the country | 5 |
To disintegrate Ukraine | 3 |
They don’t know what they really want | 3 |
They do what they are told to do | 3 |
Poverty in their country; economic collapse | 3 |
Funding from Western countries | 2 |
To attract attention | 2 |
Personal interest | 2 |
To get Crimea back | 1 |
Revenge for supporting the DPR and LPR, Crimea’s incorporation | 1 |
They try to eliminate anything related to Russia from their country | 1 |
To clear a space for local/European/American banks | 1 |
To get energy supplies from Russia for free | 1 |
Another revolution | 1 |
Other | 4 |
Don’t know | 54 |
In your opinion, should Russian authorities respond to Ukrainian sanctions? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over | |
They should respond | 50 | 36 | 40 | 55 | 53 | 59 | |
They should not respond | 40 | 58 | 51 | 42 | 35 | 29 | |
Don’t know | 10 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 12 | |
How should Russia respond to Ukrainian sanctions? (open-ended question, not more than three answers, % of those who believe that Russian authorities should respond to Ukrainian sanctions) | |
| Total respondents |
To impose retaliatory sanctions | 21 |
To negotiate | 10 |
To withdraw Russian banks from Ukraine | 5 |
To react in a tough way | 4 |
To close borders with Ukraine | 3 |
To ban money transfer to Ukraine | 3 |
Within reasonable limits | 2 |
To stop providing financial assistance to Ukraine | 2 |
To cut off gas | 2 |
To introduce troops | 1 |
To remove all Ukrainians from Russia | 1 |
To cut off any contact with Ukraine | 1 |
In a neutral way | 1 |
To recognize DPR and LPR | 1 |
To make efforts to prevent Russian citizens from being harmed in Ukraine | 1 |
Other | 3 |
Don’t know | 47 |
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!