A new poll shows the number of Russians supporting better ties with the West has significantly increased since the middle of 2015.
The survey released on November 29 and conducted by the independent Levada Center found 71 percent of Russians saying they want broader and closer economic, political, and cultural ties with the West, up from 50 percent in July 2015.
Just 17 percent supported a downgrading of ties with the West, down from 37 percent in July 2015.
Fifty-two percent of the respondents said NATO member states do not have any reason to fear Russia, while 37 percent said they do.
Fifty-seven percent of respondents said Russia should fear NATO, and 31 percent said it should not.
Forty-four percent said they care about the West’s opinion about Russia, while 51 percent said they do not.
The poll, conducted November 18-21, surveyed 1,600 Russians across the country in face-to-face interviews. No margin of error was given.
