POSITIVE VIEW OF RUSSIA IN THE EU

Source: Eurobarometer (October 2016)

1. Cyprus: 76 %
2. Bulgaria: 72%
3. Greece: 66%
4. Slovakia: 61%
5. Romania: 53%
6. Croatia: 49%
7. Italy: 47%
8. Slovenia: 45%
9. Latvia: 43%
10. Czech Republic: 39%
11. Hungary: 37%
12. Malta: 37%
13. Ireland: 31%
14. Spain: 31%
15. Estonia: 32%
16. Austria: 28%
17. Poland: 27%
18. United Kingdom: 27%
19. Belgium: 26%
20. France: 26%
21. Portugal: 26%
22. Germany: 23%
23. Luxembourg: 21%
24. Finland: 18%
25. Sweden: 13%
26. Denmark: 11%
27. Netherlands: 8%

Note

Despite the fact that several EU members have repeatedly voiced disapproval of anti-Russian sanctions policy and calling for lifting them, which harm their states' trade with Russia, Brussels continues to prolong the restrictions on Moscow. The European Union has prolonged the restrictive measures against Russian, Crimean officials, members of terrorist organizations operating in certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including the entourage of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The restrictive measures that will apply to some companies and institutions were extended for the next six months, until March 15, 2018. The sanctions consist of asset freezes and travel bans and apply to 149 persons and 38 entities.

Russian officials stress that Moscow is not a party to the Ukrainian internal conflict between Kiev and Donbass self-proclaimed republics, who don't recognize Ukraine's leadership after what they consider to be a coup after the Maidan protests. The EU said that sanctions on Russia would be lifted only if the Minsk agreements are implemented. Moscow is one of the states participating in the Normandy format talks on Ukraine's conflict settlement along with Germany, France and Ukraine itself. Back in 2015, the leaders of the countries have brokered an agreement in Minsk to help settle the conflict. Since then, the conflicting sides have traded accusations concerning violations of the Minsk deal.