MOSCOW, December 4 (Sputnik) — The United States is viewed negatively by the majority of Russians, the biggest decline in US ratings in Russia since 2008, a new public opinion poll revealed on Thursday.
The study, unveiled by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM), shows that 66 percent of Russians now view the United States unfavorably, one percent more than in 2008 when sentiments toward the United States dropped to all-time low of 65 percent.
According to the new survey conducted on November 22-23 among 1,600 Russians, only 22 percent have positive sentiments toward the United States, while 12 percent were undecided.
Only 7 percent gave a positive assessment of US-Russian relations, with five percent describing them as friendly, one percent saying the countries were still good neighbors and one percent talking about normal diplomatic ties.
The recent souring of the Russian mood about Washington comes at a time when the United States has imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russia over Moscow's alleged role in the Ukrainian crisis, and asked its Western allies to do the same.
A similar study by Pew Research Center's Global Attitude Project in July indicated a global median of 65 percent express a positive opinion about the United States. It said the US image abroad had been on a roller coaster ride due to the US spying scandal, drone strikes, Middle Eastern conflicts and a handful of recurring problems.
US "favorability" was estimated at its lowest of 10 percent in Egypt, while its median approval rating in Western Europe was at 66 percent, with 78 percent of Italians and 75 percent of French people expressing positive views of Washington.
