Along with rising concern about the threats it poses, Russia’s already tattered image in the U.S. has deteriorated further over the past year — 85% of Americans now view the nation unfavorably while 15% have a positive opinion of it. That’s an eight-percentage-point increase in unfavorable ratings from 2021 and is, by far, Russia’s worst rating in over three decades. The U.S. public generally held more favorable than unfavorable views of Russia prior to 2014. Since then, Americans have been substantially more likely to view the country negatively, as tensions have increased over Ukraine and Russian interference in U.S. elections.
Republicans and Democrats are united in their negative views of Russia, with 88% of both groups holding an unfavorable view of the country, compared with 82% of independents. In 2021, Republicans and independents were equally likely to view the country negatively, with 74% of both groups expressing unfavorable views, while 84% of Democrats did so.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s image remains positive, as it has in each of four measures since 2005. Currently, 62% of Americans view it favorably, up slightly from 57% in 2020. Thirty-four percent of Americans currently view Ukraine unfavorably. Americans’ opinions of Ukraine were most positive in the initial 2005 reading — 67% favorable and 18% unfavorable.
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