Two thirds of Russians think hostilities will resume in Ukraine - poll
MOSCOW. Sept 22 (Interfax) - Almost half of Russians do not expect a positive outcome from the current truce between the Ukrainian leadership and the Donetsk and Luhansk republics, according to a poll, conducted by the Public Opinion Foundation pollster.
Eighty-seven percent of those polled said they were informed about the ceasefire negotiated between Kyiv and the militia, and 12% said it was a revelation for them.
The poll was conducted among 1,000 respondents in 480 populated areas on September 14.
Forty-eight percent of those surveyed said the truce would not lead to an improvement in relations between the conflicting parties, 36% said they were optimistic and 16% were undecided.
Sixty-three percent of those polled said that fighting would restart, 18% think that the truce would lead to stable peace and 18% were undecided.
Russians are divided on what the future of the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republic will be like. Thirty-four percent of those polled said the republics would become independent, 24% said they would become integrated within Russia, 19% think they would remain part of Ukraine and 20% were undecided.
Concerning aid to refugees from Ukraine, 54% of those polled said the aid should be temporary and last until peace is achieved, and 8% each added that, "people must live in their native territory," that "refugees will themselves want to return to their homeland after the fighting ends,", that "Russia has its own problem dealing with using budget resources," and that "refugees must be aided."
Twenty-nine percent of respondents said that assistance should be given to Ukrainian refugees in getting adjusted to their new places in Russia, 10% said they are "our Slavic brothers," 9% said people in trouble must be given assistance, which is humane, and 5% said the Russian economy will benefit from refugees.
Seventeen percent of those surveyed were undecided.