Most of Russians see no reasons to soften the conditions for Ukraine to help repay the debt granted by Russia two years ago.
MOSCOW, November 6, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) presents the data describing how Russians assess the situation concerning three billion dollar debt granted by Russia to Ukraine.
Most of Russians are categorical about the problem of the repayment of the Ukrainian debt (3 billion US dollars) expiring in December this year: 79% of Russians believe it is important to demand the payment in due time.
Only 15% of respondents agree to make a compromise - to restructure the debt partially writing it off and postponing the remainder. This idea is mainly shared by the non-parliamentary parties’ supporters (43%).
Those who are more flexible say that Ukraine should be proposed to “leave Donbass and to stop military actions” (12%). Ukrainian demand can be accepted if the attitudes towards Russia are friendly (7%), or if more favorable conditions are approved (3%), etc. However, most of those who share this stance (65%) failed to precise what could make Russia soften the conditions for debt repayment.
According to the Medialogia Company analysis, there were more than 2.5 mln publications in the Russian media devoted to the Ukrainian topic. The peak was in February (338 ths). The most popular issues covered by mass media were the Donbass conflict resolution and international negotiations over Ukraine.
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted October 24 through October 25, 2015; 1600 respondents were interviewed in 132 settlements in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%. Monitoring and analysis of the Russian media publications were carried out by the Medialogia Company using approximately 27 400 sources such as television, radio, newspapers, magazines, information agencies and online media. Research period: January – October 2015.
In December 2013, following the demand of the Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich Russia granted a three billion US dollar credit to Ukraine. The repayment term expires in December 2015 but Ukraine states that the country does not have enough money to repay the debt. New Ukrainian authorities insist on debt restructuring (partially writing off the debt or postponing its repayment). In your opinion, what should Russia do? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||||||
| Total respondents | A Just Russia party | Supporters of LDPR | Supporters of CPRF | Supporters of United Russia party | Supporters of non-parliamentary parties | I would not take part in elections |
Russians should demand the full repayment of the debt and in due course from Ukraine | 79 | 74 | 83 | 82 | 80 | 53 | 77 |
Under certain circumstances Ukrainian demand to write off the debt or to postpone the repayment can be satisfied | 15 | 19 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 43 | 11 |
Don`t know | 6 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 12 |
In your opinion, under what circumstances could Russia satisfy the Ukrainian demand to partially write off the debt or to reschedule the debt payment? (open-ended question, any number of answers , % of those who believe that under certain circumstance Russia should satisfy Ukrainian demand to restructure the debt) | |
| Total respondents |
If they leave Donbass in peace and stop the military actions | 12 |
If they are friendly towards Russia | 7 |
If they pay the debt partially | 5 |
If the government is changed | 3 |
If the conditions are favorable | 3 |
Postponing the debt | 2 |
Making Ukraine pay the debt back with interest | 1 |
If they settle the Crimean issue | 1 |
If the sanctions are lifted | 1 |
If they guarantee the repayment | 1 |
Don`t know | 65 |
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