The “Russian Public Opinion – 2024” is an English version of the Levada-Center’s Yearbook that presents the results of public opinion surveys in 2024 in comparison with the data for previous years. Some questions have long-term trend. The free electronic copy of the book in English (2024) is available now.
Year: 2026
Attitudes towards China, the United States, the EU, and Ukraine in January 2026
Since the end of last year, attitudes towards China, the United States, the EU, and Ukraine have hardly changed. The majority of Russians have a positive attitude towards China, and a good attitude towards the country remains throughout the entire observation period. Slightly less than half of the respondents have a bad attitude towards the United States, and a third have a good attitude; attitudes towards the United States improved last year amid attempts to resolve the conflict with Ukraine. A predominantly negative attitude towards the EU and Ukraine has been maintained over the past 4 years.
Perception of Western sanctions against Russia: January 2026
Two thirds of the respondents are not concerned about Western sanctions against Russia, the proportion of those who are concerned about sanctions has increased slightly over the year. At the same time, according to the majority of respondents, the sanctions have not created serious problems for their families, this indicator has not changed in recent years. More than half of the respondents believe that sanctions will boost development for Russia, but the proportion of such responses is gradually decreasing. At the same time, the majority of respondents are of the opinion that Russia should continue its foreign policy despite the sanctions.
Ukraine conflict in January 2026: attention, support for Russian armed forces, ideas on negotiations, views on what to do if agreements cannot be reached, duration and outcome of military actions
In January 2026, less than half of the respondents followed the situation around Ukraine – the minimum indicator during the observation period. The level of support for the Russian army’s actions remains high. The majority of respondents believe it is necessary to move to peace negotiations, while the share of supporters of continuing military actions has grown to a third of respondents. More than half of the respondents believe that if peace cannot be achieved yet, Russia should intensify strikes on Ukraine, including using new types of weapons. The majority of respondents still believe that military actions will last a long time, only a third say they will end within a year. The opinion that military actions will end in Russia’s victory is shared by three quarters of respondents, this share is quite stable.
Conflict with Ukraine in December 2025: attention, support for Russian armed forces, ideas for negotiations, and opinions on the US peace plan
In December, about a half of the respondents followed the situation around Ukraine more or less attentively. The level of support for the actions of the Russian army remains high. Two-thirds of respondents support transitioning to peace negotiations, while the share of supporters of continuing military actions has decreased to a quarter of respondents. Half of the respondents do not believe that the US attempt to achieve a peace agreement will be successful, while slightly more than a quarter say the opposite.