Half of the Russians think it would be right for Russia to use military force against Ukraine to keep the country out of it NATOrevealed a poll.
Fears are growing that it is only a matter of time Vladimir Putin will launch a full-scale attack on Ukraine, with US intelligence indicating that the deadly move will be in the next 48 hours.
Putin said the crisis would only be resolved if Ukraine withdrew from NATO, declared neutrality, “demilitarized” and negotiated with separatists. The West has previously flatly rejected Ukraine’s final ban on NATO.
Fifty percent of Russians believe it is right for a strong Russian man to use the military to stop Ukraine’s accession to NATO, according to a poll conducted by CNN. Only 25 percent of Russians surveyed say that would be wrong.
According to a poll conducted by CNN, 50 percent of Russians believe that it is right for a strong Russian man to use the military to stop Ukraine’s accession to NATO
Russian armored vehicles at the railway station in Rostov region, Russia, on Wednesday, near the border with Ukraine
But the survey also found that 43 percent of Russians thought it would be wrong to invade Ukraine to “unite Russia and Ukraine,” compared to 36 percent who said it would be the right move.
Russian TV presenter and journalist Vladimir Posner told CNN that the poll underscores the general opinion among Russians that Ukraine’s accession to NATO would threaten Russia.
“This suggests that if Ukraine becomes a member of NATO and if NATO forces are deployed on Russia’s doorstep, this will be an existential threat and therefore cannot be allowed,” Posner said.
Orysia Lutzevvch, head of the forum for Ukraine at the British think tank Chatham House, told the news site: “Modern Russia has a syndrome of crumbling empires.
“The loss of these lands is presented as a ‘historical injustice’ that must be remedied, including by force. Ukraine is seen as a jewel in the crown that has been “stolen from NATO”.
“Using the old Soviet intimidation of the United States and NATO, the Russians believe that this is an aggressive bloc that is hampering Russian-Ukrainian unity.”
This comes when US President Joe Biden warned Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky of an “imminent” attack by Putin‘s troops, just hours later Ukraine it was hit by a “massive” cyberattack targeting its government and banks.
The survey, which surveyed more than 2,000 Russians and Ukrainians, found that 70 percent of people in Ukraine – not surprisingly – said it would be wrong for Russia to use military force against Ukraine to prevent them from joining NATO, while 73 the percentage would be wrong is to do this to unite Russia and Ukraine.
Meanwhile, 50% of Russians said it would be right to use military force if Russia felt threatened by foreign activity in the former Soviet states.
Although Putin is sending 190,000 troops near Ukraine’s border and Western intelligence says troops are “ready to launch” their attack, only 13 percent of Russians surveyed believe Russia will use military force against Ukraine.
Putin said the crisis would only be resolved if Ukraine withdrew from NATO, declared neutrality, “demilitarized” and negotiated with separatists. Earlier, the West categorically rejected the final ban on Ukraine by NATO
Although Putin is sending 190,000 troops near Ukraine’s border and Western intelligence says troops are “ready to launch” their attack, only 13 percent of Russians surveyed believe Russia will use military force against Ukraine while 75 per cent think they won’t.
The poll was conducted in early February, before Putin recognized two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent and sent troops to the regions.
“The reason why 75% of Russians think Russia will not invade Ukraine is simply because of what they read in their newspapers and see on television.
“In principle, there is no hysteria, no beating of the battle drum, a consistent message that we do not want a war and we will not start one,” Posner said.
He added: “The Russians know what Western leaders are saying. Their statements are widely covered in the media. The general feeling is that the West actually wants Russia to attack Ukraine, because that would be in the West’s favor, it pushes Russia to attack.
“They are also of the opinion that while Ukraine cannot resist a comprehensive Russian invasion, Russia will lose much more than any military victory would gain,” he said.
But according to Lutsevich, 75 percent of Russians who believe their country will not invade Ukraine may be due to “how Russian-controlled media and disinformation form an alternative reality for the Russian population.”
Lutsevich told CNN: “In Russia, the West is portrayed as a villain who abuses Ukraine to undermine Russia’s greatness. In the event of Russian military aggression, Russia will be portrayed as fighting against US and NATO forces, not killing its Slavic brethren.
Meanwhile, 42% of Ukrainians believe that Russia will start a war, while 45% believe that this is unlikely.
The majority of Russians surveyed – 65 per cent – said there would be a peaceful end to tensions between Russia and Ukraine, while 43 per cent of Ukrainians agreed.
Meanwhile, US intelligence chiefs fear that Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, is at particular risk of being invaded by Russia as it is close to the Ukrainian-Russian border. Last night, a huge military convoy of more than 100 trucks of soldiers headed for the city.
Ukraine was placed on military grounds today: a state of emergency was declared and approved by parliament, 200,000 military reservists were called in, border areas were restricted and three million Ukrainians were told to leave Russia, with Kiev acknowledging for the first time that the attack could now to be held anywhere and anytime.
As the noose tightened, Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised to send more weapons to help Ukraine defend itself against what the United States has warned would be a comprehensive Russian attack. Johnson also promised more and tougher sanctions against Russia if Putin escalates further.
Earlier in the day, Vladimir Putin addressed a sword to his troops to mark Defender of the Fatherland Day, praising their “combat readiness” and saying he was confident they would fight to protect the interests of the Fatherland. Russian security – what he called “non-negotiable”. Russia is also evacuating employees from its embassy in Kiev.
Ukraine’s security agency says 45,000 plastic bags for corpses have already been ordered on Russian fronts, giving the first hint of the number of lives Putin is willing to sacrifice to get what he wants – after Joe Biden said. that blood transfusion supplies were also delivered.
UK Foreign Secretary Liz Trass has warned that Putin is “hellishly inclined” to a full-scale invasion of Ukraine with a direct attack on the capital Kiev “very likely” to be in his plans. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison predicts the attack is “likely to happen within the next 24 hours”.