Ukraine pursued a policy to be part of NATO for six years but the current government of Viktor Yanukovich decided to take a U-turn. Ukrainian parliament is going to pass a law that will restrict Ukraine from joining the military alliance. Ukrainian government decision seems to have popular support as well. A Pew Research Center survey shows that more than half of the Ukrainian respondents have an unfavorable opinion of NATO and they are opposed to Ukraine entry into NATO. This opposition is highest in ethnically Russian areas of Ukraine. Somewhat similar are the views about NATO in Belarus, another neighbor of Ukraine and Russia.
The surveys show that Ukrainians have a very positive opinion of Russia. Ukrainian will be approving a suggestion to have further closer ties with Russia and will support the exclusion of visas and customs. This shows that the immediate neighbors of Russia perceive Russian influence as positive except for Georgia. The opinions on Central Asian side are somewhat mixed. Keeping in view the fact of stabilizing Russian economy and military strength reflected in its foreign policy, Russian resurgence seems to be underway. Will Russia be able to extend its positive image beyond these immediate neighbors in East Europe? Are Russians still thinking of a Greater Russia including some parts of Soviet Union back to its territory? Public support for United Russia has been on the rise for the last few years but can it really be translated into political terms?
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