A newly published survey shows that the attitude of the Russian people towards the US has changed positively compared to a decade ago, although most still maintain a negative view.
The survey was conducted by the Russian Social Public Opinion Fund (FOM) in early June with 1,500 participants from across the country.
According to the survey results, 18% of respondents said they now have a positive view of the United States, nearly double the 10% in 2015. The rate of people with negative attitudes decreased from 38% to 31%.
The number of people expressing indifference to the US also decreased from 46% to 40%, while 11% were uncertain or had no specific opinions.
When asked about the prospects for bilateral relations, 31% said there was still room for improvement, 7% predicted it would be worse, while 39% said there would be no change. Up to 23% of survey participants were not sure what to expect.
However, nearly half of the respondents (48%) still believe that Moscow and Washington can build a friendly relationship in the future, with the prerequisite being to end the conflict in Ukraine, organize negotiations, mutually understand and restore trust.
When referring to foreign policy orientation, 61% of Russiaans were asked whether the country should pursue friendly relations with the US. However, 31% expressed skepticism, saying that was not feasible due to the deep difference in value and thinking.
Regarding the image of US President Donald Trump, 36% of respondents surveyed the situation as positive, while 26% were not sympathetic. Notably, 47% said Trump made decisions based on personal emotions, while only 28% said he acted rational.
The survey shows that the relationship between Russia and the US, despite being tense, still has hope in the eyes of the Russian people. The slow but clear change in attitude can be a signal for future dialogue opportunities, if key conditions are met.
