Russia’s desired outcome in the months before Donald Trump’s election in 2016 was not simply to see him elected. It aimed, instead, to more broadly “undermine the US-led liberal democratic order” (in the words of a January 2017 intelligence assessment), an effort that Russia believed would be aided far more […] Read more »
A Test for Biden, a Test for Democracy
Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine confronts President Joe Biden with complex challenges at a time when he is already beleaguered—but it also presents him with an opportunity for a reset on the core foreign-policy promise he made to voters during his 2020 campaign. As a candidate, Biden offered voters not […] Read more »
Broad majority of Americans support Russia sanctions
More than two-thirds of Americans think the United States should impose additional sanctions against Russia as it masses its forces along the border with Ukraine, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Wednesday. CONTINUED Jason Lange, Reuters The OPINION TODAY email newsletter is a concise daily rundown of significant new poll results and […] Read more »
Putin’s public approval is soaring during the Russia-Ukraine crisis, but it’s unlikely to last
Arik Burakovsky, Tufts University Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into eastern Ukraine on Feb. 21, 2022. The invasion could lead to the biggest armed conflict in Europe since World War II, Western leaders warn. But amid the mounting tensions, public opinion polls in Russia show that support for Putin […] Read more »
America’s role in the Russia and Ukraine situation
Most Americans are paying at least some attention to the increased tensions between Russia and Ukraine. While most of the public thinks the United States should have a role in the situation, they are more likely to say it should be a minor role rather than a major one. About […] Read more »
Republicans view Putin more favorably than they do leading Democrats
Russian President Vladimir Putin operates within a well-established political framework. He is an autocrat with near-unilateral control over his country. Russia has elections, but no one is under the impression that the results will be allowed to pose a threat to Putin’s power. Personal freedoms are constrained significantly; opponents of […] Read more »