Poll: U.S. no longer seen as Russia’s top enemy

06/09/2025 / By Laura Harris

For the first time in 20 years, Russians no longer view the U.S. as their top adversary – Germany, the U.K. and Ukraine now lead the list of most hostile nations, with the U.S. dropping to fourth.
Russia’s strongest perceived allies remain Belarus (80 percent) and China (64 percent), followed by Kazakhstan, India and North Korea – reflecting a consistent pivot toward Eastern partners.
Favorability toward Iran and Armenia has sharply declined, with both countries losing 11 percentage points in public support compared to previous years.
Negative sentiment toward European nations is high, especially toward Ukraine (75 percent unfavorable), while attitudes toward the U.S. and Japan are split; India and Brazil are viewed more positively.
Growing war weariness, along with President Donald Trump’s return and promises to end the Ukraine war, appear to have softened Russian public hostility toward the U.S., while increasing blame is placed on Europe for continued conflict escalation.

A new poll released by the independent Levada Center has revealed that, for the first time in two decades, Russians no longer consider the United States as their top enemy.

The survey, conducted in person among more than 1,600 Russian adults from May 22 to 28, has revealed that Germany (55 percent), the United Kingdom (49 percent) and Ukraine (43 percent) have now topped the list as the countries Russians view as the most hostile – displacing the U.S. (40 percent), which had long held the number one spot in similar surveys, particularly after flashpoints like the 2008 Russo-Georgian War and the 2014 annexation of Crimea. (Related: Germany BLOCKS Russia from exporting food, then BLAMES Russia for causing brutal hunger.)

Meanwhile, Russia’s view of its allies has remained largely stable, with Belarus (80 percent) and China (64 percent) continuing to top the list, followed by Kazakhstan (36 percent), India (32 percent) and North Korea (30 percent).

Notably, Iran and Armenia, once seen as closer allies, have experienced a marked decline in favorability. Only 11 percent of respondents now view Iran as an ally, down 11 percentage points since May 2024, while Armenia is viewed positively by just nine percent, an 11-point drop since May 2022.

The data also shows mixed attitudes toward other global powers. India and Brazil are generally viewed positively, while opinions on the United States and Japan are more evenly split. In contrast, attitudes toward European countries remain largely negative, with three-quarters of respondents expressing unfavorable views toward Ukraine.

Overall, the poll suggests that Russia’s geopolitical worldview continues to pivot eastward, with the public embracing nations seen as supportive or neutral amid ongoing international isolation and conflict. Meanwhile, distrust toward traditional Western powers appears more entrenched than ever, even as calls for peace and normalization remain strong among the Russian populace.

Russia shifts in public sentiment coincide with Trump’s return to White House

The change in sentiment appears to coincide with the return of President Donald Trump to the White House and his renewed efforts to de-escalate the Ukraine conflict.

Unlike European leaders, Trump has refrained from advocating new sanctions against Russia and has repeatedly pledged to end the war through negotiations, a stance that seems to resonate with war-weary Russian citizens.

In contrast, the U.K. and Germany have taken on increasingly hawkish positions, calling for greater defense spending and a united Western front against Moscow. Observers suggest that these moves may be fueling growing resentment among the Russian public, who increasingly see European capitals, not Washington, as drivers of conflict escalation.

Meaning, the poll reflects a broader realignment in Russian public consciousness, where the focus is shifting away from traditional adversaries and toward newer perceived threats tied to ongoing military and diplomatic tensions.

“Over three years after the Ukraine war kicked off with intensity, there are grim estimates that hundreds of thousands of young Russian men may have been killed. Certainly war weariness has also take hold of Western populations for some time now. It appears common Russians are increasingly blaming the leading European countries for recent escalations,” Tyler Durden wrote in his article for the ZeroHedge.

Visit WWIII.news to read more related news.

Watch this clip from the “Breanna Morello Show” as she discusses the possibility of radical Islamist migrants orchestrating a Moscow-style attack on the United States.

This video is from the MyPodcastDropped2320 channel on Brighteon.com.