Ukraine is not a foreign country?

A sociological survey on Russians’ perception of Ukraine yielded excellent results. Not about the attitude towards it, but about the perception.

More than 60% do not consider Ukraine to be abroad.

More than 30% believe that the association agreement with the EU is nothing less than a betrayal of the interests of the Slavic peoples. Betrayal!

Less than half reserve the right for Ukraine to sign such an agreement, believing that this is its internal matter. That is, the other half, apparently, believes that Ukraine’s agreement with anyone is none of its business. Whose? And if Ukraine is not abroad, then what?

But with such figures, it’s even somehow strange to reproach Vladimir Putin for doing his best to prevent Ukraine’s rapprochement with the EU. He simply follows the opinion of the majority of his citizens!

It’s interesting that when we asked listeners on air whether they were willing to pay out of their own pockets for Ukraine to stop integration into Europe (and we would have to pay, and from our pockets), 90% did not want to pay. I understand how unrepresentative our sociological calculations are, but I believe that even with the most rigorous research, the result would be different in numbers, but not in essence.

Friends, why pretend? Let's give sociologists the task of asking our people: do you think that Ukraine should become part of Russia, and against its will and also pay for it? I would look forward to an answer to such a question. Yes, and Putin would be pleased.