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Poll Shows More Ukrainians Support NATO, Dislike Russia


Activists hold a portrait and a placard with the names of Crimean Tatars, who are reportedly missing in Crimea, during a protest in front of the Russian Embassy in Kyiv last week.
Activists hold a portrait and a placard with the names of Crimean Tatars, who are reportedly missing in Crimea, during a protest in front of the Russian Embassy in Kyiv last week.

The number of Ukrainians who support their country becoming a member of NATO has increased while their feelings toward Russia are "cold," according to a new opinion poll.

The survey showed that 43 percent of respondents would vote "yes" in a referendum on Ukraine's accession to NATO, up from 39 percent in a June poll.

Some 29 percent said they were against Kyiv joining the military alliance, with 17 percent saying they were undecided and 11 percent indicating they would not vote.

The survey also showed that 57 percent of Ukrainians describe themselves as having either "cold" or "very cold" feelings toward Russia.

The poll -- which was conducted by the Rating Group Ukraine on behalf of the U.S.-based International Republican Institute (IRI) and which received funding from the Canadian government -- also showed dissatisfaction with the Ukrainian government's handling of economic and corruption issues.

"This poll reinforces the trend of frustration among Ukrainian citizens that we’ve seen in previous polls, and indicates that the window of opportunity for the government to build public support is rapidly closing," said Stephen Nix, IRI's regional director for Eurasia.

The percentage of people in the poll who feel Ukraine is headed in the wrong direction remained at 72 percent.

Some 2,400 Ukrainians except for those living on the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula and in areas of the Donbas region under the control of Russia-backed separatists were involved in the survey, which was conducted between September 28 and October 7.

With reporting by Interfax and IRI.org
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