The share of Americans who consider Russia an “enemy’’ has fallen to its lowest point since the country began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to a poll published Thursday by the Pew Research Center. The shift owes largely to evolving views among Republicans amid stark changes in US policy and diplomacy toward Russia and Ukraine under President Trump.
The survey found the share of Americans who said Russia was an “enemy’’ had fallen to 50 percent, from 61 percent in April 2024 and 70 percent in March 2022, just after the invasion began.
The softening in attitudes toward Russia was far sharper among Republican voters, with 40 percent saying Russia was an enemy, down from 58 percent last year and 69 percent in March 2022.
Thirty-four percent of Americans overall now describe Russia as a competitor of the United States, while just 9 percent said it was a partner.
The 40 percent figure brings Republicans close to attitudes toward Russia before it invaded Ukraine.
In January 2022, 39 percent of Republicans viewed Russia as an enemy.
washington post