The geopolitical situation in Ukraine has created a tense situation between Russia and Ukraine. This relationship has been complicated for decades and continues to affect many Russian citizens. Since Russia seized Crimea in 2014, Russia has stepped up its involvement in the conflict, which has resulted in a deteriorating relationship between the two countries. The question is: How do Russians feel about this situation? Let’s take a look.
According to a Pew Global Research poll, Russians’ attitude toward Ukraine increased from 2014 to 2018. Despite the conflict, many Ukrainians feel that their nation’s history is rooted in Russia. A recent pro-Kremlin talk show host mocked Ukraine’s military capabilities. Meanwhile, 66 percent of Ukrainians expressed confidence in Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin. These polls have shown that Russians have become more polarized towards Ukraine as a result of the crisis.
While the Russian government’s military aggression has caused many Ukrainians to harbor strong anti-Russian animus, the Russian public’s attitudes towards Russia are not so strong. The majority of Russian citizens view Russia as a rival. In fact, a poll conducted by Rating Group Ukraine found that 57 percent of Ukrainians had a “cold” attitude towards the country, while only 17 percent felt a warm attachment to Russia.
There has been a shift in attitudes toward Russia. Before 2014, Ukraine was a largely unknown society and the Ukrainians had a long-standing anti-Russian stance. In the aftermath of the Ukrainian invasion of Crimea, Russia’s reputation began to suffer. Almost 80 percent of Russians backed Putin’s annexation of Crimea, while just seven percent had negative feelings toward the country. In addition, many of these citizens linked Putin to the restoration of the former Soviet Union’s dominance.
Positive attitudes towards Russia have remained stable until the Euromaidan protests. In the west, the attitudes were positive, ranging from 65 percent in 2014 to 93 percent in the east. The positive attitudes toward Russia belied the rumours of a Russophobic western Ukraine. Only 20 percent of the Ukrainians felt negatively toward the Russians. The results were similar in the east. Until 2014, the Russians did not see themselves as an enemy.
While the Ukrainians want peace with Russia, they do not want war with Russia. It would be disastrous for the Ukrainians and for the Russians. While many Russians may desire friendly relations with Ukraine, many of them are wary of the potential risks of war. During the Euromaidan protests, the Kremlin has explained the support for the separatists in eastern Ukraine as a humanitarian intervention. This false narrative is accepted by many Russians, whose sympathies are based on the escalation of the situation in the region.
Despite the conflict, Russia’s attitude toward the Ukrainian people has remained positive. Interestingly, most Russians consider the Euromaidan uprising as a Western-backed coup. The country is also viewed as a neighboring nation. The conflict in Ukraine has not impacted the state of Russia in any way. Moreover, the Russians’ economic situation in Europe has not changed. There are no signs of war in the eastern part of the country.
The positive perceptions of the Ukrainians towards Russia have shifted during the Euromaidan protests, which many saw as an invasion by the West. However, the majority of Russians perceive the Ukrainians as hostile to them. While they may think of Russia as an enemy, it is not as opposed to the Russians. They think that Ukraine is the enemy. While this may be true in some cases, the conflict is largely a case of perception.
In 2017, Russia’s attitude towards the Ukraine had been stable since 2014. The positive sentiment of the Ukrainians tended to rise from sixty percent in the west to 93 percent in the east. The contrasting perceptions of the two countries were not widely dissimilar, and the latter’s positive attitude toward the Russians was a surprise to many. Nevertheless, there were negative attitudes toward the Russians in the western part of Ukraine as a whole.