Number of Russians considering Baltic states Russia's enemies decreases
According to a recent survey by independent Russian pollster Levada, the number of Russians who consider the Baltic states enemies of their country has decreased substantially.
While in August 2009 38 percent of Russians considered states that used to be part of the Soviet Union, like the Baltic states and Georgia for instance, enemies of Russia, this number has shrunk to just 10 percent, a survey carried out in December last year shows.
Meanwhile a record 68 percent of Russians consider the United States to be their country's biggest enemy. For example seven years earlier, in 2011, just 40 percent thought the U.S. are after Russia.
Other countries perceived as enemies in December 2017 include Ukraine (29 percent), the European Union (14 percent), and Poland (8 percent).
The number of Russians who see NATO as hostile has also dropped to a record low, with just 6 percent seeing it as an enemy of Russia, down e.g. from 35 percent in Levada's 2012 poll.
Islamic extremists also rank lower than previously, at just five percent in 2017 compared to 20 percent in 2012.
Editor: Dario Cavegn