According to a poll by the independent Levada Institute in Moscow, Germany is now considered the most hostile country towards Russia, with 55% of respondents indicating this, up from 40% in May last year. The United States, which held the top spot for two decades, is now second with 40%. The shift in public opinion is attributed to the revival of Russian-American relations under President Donald Trump. Russian leadership criticizes Germany for supplying weapons to Ukraine, with tensions escalating since Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office. The United Kingdom ranks as the second most hostile country at 49%, followed by Ukraine at 43%. The poll also found that Russians consider Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, India, and North Korea as countries with the closest relations.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning outlets emphasize the role of geopolitical tensions and criticize the militarization and arms supplies to Ukraine by Germany, framing the shift in Russian public opinion as a consequence of Western aggression and NATO expansion. They may highlight the negative impact of these policies on peace prospects and the worsening of relations.
Center: Centrist sources report the poll results factually, focusing on the statistical changes in Russian public opinion and the political context, such as the improvement in US-Russia relations under Trump and the criticism of Germany’s arms deliveries to Ukraine. They provide balanced coverage without strong editorializing.
Right: Right-leaning media often stress the perceived betrayal by Germany and Western countries, portraying Germany as aggressively hostile towards Russia due to its support for Ukraine. They may frame the poll as evidence of justified Russian distrust and emphasize the importance of strong national defense and skepticism towards Western policies.
