A new survey reveals ties between Russians and Ukrainians: What is their view on the Ukrainian crisis? – Topky.sk

Nearly half (43 percent) of Russians said that using military force to annex Ukraine to Russia would be wrong, while 36 percent of respondents would consider it the right thing to do. The remaining respondents were unable to decide whether Ukraine’s reunification with Russia would be right or wrong, CNN. It may come as no surprise that most Ukrainians do not agree with the use of Russian military force. Seven out of ten respondents said it would be wrong for Russia to use military force to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO or to reunite the two countries (73 percent).

Ukraine rejects Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim that their country has no historical basis and is essentially a creation of the Soviet Union. Across the country and in all age groups, most Ukrainians claim that they are not “one nation” with the Russians and that the two countries should not unite into one.

Concerns of Russia

The survey, which involved more than 1,000 people from each country, was conducted online from 7 to 15 February. It was before Monday’s speech by the Russian president, who recognized the independence of the two separatist republics in Ukraine. It is argued that if Ukraine became a member of NATO and the Alliance’s forces were deployed on Russia’s border, it would pose an existential threat. Therefore, Ukraine’s entry into the alliance can never be approved.

Orysia Lutsevych, head of the Ukrainian Forum Chatham House in London, presented a darker picture of the Russian perspective. “Today’s Russia is suffering from a collapsing empire syndrome. The loss of territory is presented as a historic injustice that should be remedied, including by violence. Ukraine is seen as a crown jewel that NATO plans to steal.” stated.

Contrary to Western warnings that Russian President Vladimir Putin is about to attack, only 13 percent of Russians think the Kremlin is planning a military operation in Ukraine. In Russia, the West is presented as a “villain” who abuses Ukraine to undermine Russia. In the case of Russia’s military aggression, Russia will be portrayed as fighting US and NATO forces and not as killing its Slavic brothers.

Only 43 percent of Ukrainians believe in a peaceful end to tensions. However, they disagree that Russia could start a war – 42 percent expect it, 45 percent consider it unlikely. More than half of Russians (57 percent) and three-quarters of Ukrainians (77 percent) think that Ukraine will not start military action against Russia in the near future, with only 31 percent of Russians and 13 percent of Ukrainians saying they really think so.

Eastern part of Ukraine

The Russians and Ukrainians also disagree on whether Russian troops are present in the eastern areas of Ukraine on the separatist-controlled Donbas – 73 percent of Ukrainians think their territory is occupied. Russia has argued for years that it has no troops in Ukraine, but US, NATO and Ukrainian officials are convinced that the Russian government is supplying separatists, providing them with advice and intelligence.

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Source: TASR / AP Photo / Sergei Grits

Most Russians do not expect a Ukrainian attack on their country. Only 31 percent said Ukraine could attack. In fact, two out of three (65 percent) respondents expect the disputes to end peacefully. “The reason 75 percent of Russians think that Russia will not invade Ukraine is simple. They believe what they read in the newspapers and see on television. Basically, there is no hysteria, no pounding of a war drum, or a message that the Russians want war or they need,” states the survey.

Correlation

While Ukraine would not be able to withstand a total Russian invasion, Russia would thus lose much more than it would have gained. In the background of the immediate crisis, the Russians and Ukrainians have significantly different views on the relationship between the population. Two out of three (64 percent) Russians say that Russians and Ukrainians are one nation, as the USSR taught. Regardless of historical events, Ukrainians tend to consider themselves a separate nation.

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Source: Getty Images

The vast majority of Ukrainians believe that Russia and Ukraine should be two separate countries, with only 9 percent saying that the countries should unite under one flag. Despite the large gap in their relations, the Russians and Ukrainians agree on some issues.

The popularity of presidents

Most Ukrainians have chosen only “friendly” and “wise” as their own president, with about 40 percent choosing “pragmatic” and “responsible.” The Russians did not rank Zelenský high in any of these qualities, with a third (35 percent) – like the Ukrainians themselves (32 percent) – calling him “dangerous”. Opinions about US President Joe Biden were abysmal. Biden’s most common descriptions were “wise”, “strong” and “responsible”, while most Russians did not rate him highly in any of these qualities. Half of the Russians called Biden “dangerous”, as did a third of Ukrainians.