A recent poll reveals that while many Russians claim to support President Vladimir Putin, their approval doesn’t extend to his foreign policy, particularly regarding the war in Ukraine.
Determining true public sentiment about Putin, especially amidst the Kremlin’s strict control over dissent, can be tricky. However, Chronicles, an organization led by opposition politician Aleksei Miniailo and a team of sociologists, has conducted surveys over the past two years that aim to provide a more accurate portrayal of public opinion through detailed questioning.
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In their latest survey, which involved 800 participants from September 10 to 17 and has a margin of error of 3.45%, the wording matched that of a poll by the independent Levada Center. While a significant 78% expressed approval of Russia’s leadership, follow-up questions indicated that this support did not translate into agreement with Putin’s foreign policies.
Only 14% of those who approved of Putin’s performance—in light of his March election—were aligned with his foreign policy stances, notably the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and his confrontational approach towards the West.
Miniailo explains this phenomenon, stating, “Many Russians support Putin out of a normative position—what a good patriotic citizen should believe. The state’s resources are geared toward fostering this perception.”
Interestingly, 61% of Putin’s supporters advocated for a peace treaty with Ukraine that involves mutual concessions, and 43% expressed a desire to mend relations with the West. This diverges from Putin’s current agenda, signaling conflicting beliefs among his base.
Furthermore, a striking 83% of those who backed Putin wished for the government to prioritize domestic social and economic issues. Among the disapproving respondents, 92% also wanted a shift towards addressing domestic problems, while 79% favored peace talks with Ukraine and 90% desired improved relations with Western nations.
Despite these sentiments, Putin is heavily investing in military spending, with plans to increase the budget for defense even further by 2025, according to a Bloomberg report. Miniailo notes, “Putin claims to be working for the betterment of Russia, yet he repeatedly neglects domestic needs, prioritizing foreign policy instead.”