The poll found that 51 percent of Italian, 48 percent of Germans and 43 percent of French respondents want sanctions to be lifted in June 2016. At the same time, only 29 percent of Americans supported the removal of sanctions.
Since 2014, the European Union, the United States and their allies have imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russia over accusations of Kremlin's alleged interference in the Ukrainian conflict — a claim that Moscow has repeatedly denied.
On June 28-29, EU leaders are due to decide on further the prolongation of sanctions at a summit in Brussels.
However, discontent is now growing among EU members over Brussels’ policy of sanctions.
The resolution proposed by the opposition calls on the French government to protest extension of EU sanctions against Moscow. Although the resolution is not legally binding, the document will be sent to the French government for consideration.
Not only France, but other European countries want normal relations with Russia, but it is too early to say that sanctions will be lifted at any time soon, Grigoriy Tischenko, deputy director of the Russian Institute for Strategic Research, told Sputnik Radio.
"Of course, there is some progress in bilateral ties with some European countries. Those countries want sanctions to be lifted but they are members of such large blocs like the EU and NATO. Brussels is unlikely to lift sanctions in the near future. We’re witnessing a policy aimed at fueling tensions between Russia and West," he said.
