The close interactions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin seem to be easing hostility towards Russia, which has traditionally been viewed as an adversary in the United States. Notably, among conservative members of the Republican Party, opinions are divided on whether to see Russia as an enemy.
According to a report by The Washington Post (WP), citing a survey by the Pew Research Center on the 17th (local time), the percentage of Americans who consider Russia an enemy is at 50%, the lowest since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The percentage of Americans viewing Russia as an enemy rose to 70% shortly after the invasion in March 2022.
The change in attitudes towards Russia is particularly pronounced among Republican voters. Among Republican voters, 40% consider Russia an enemy, a decrease of about 20 percentage points from last year's 58%. During the Russia-Ukraine war, this figure was 69%.
Perceptions of friendly feelings towards Russia are also spreading. In this survey, 34% of all Americans see Russia as a competitor to the U.S., and 9% perceive Russia as a partner of the U.S. Among Republicans, the percentage of those viewing Russia as a partner is 12%, higher than the overall average.
This survey was conducted shortly after President Trump and President Putin had a conversation regarding the ceasefire in the Ukraine war on the 19th of last month. Immediately after the conversation, President Trump noted that "the U.S. is a completely different country than it was months ago" and stated that he would seek a friendly relationship with Russia. This indicates a reversal of the traditional diplomatic stance that views Russia as an enemy or competitor of the U.S.
President Trump has maintained a friendly stance towards President Putin. He has referred to President Putin as a "friend" several times in official settings. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) prior to the election last October, he commented on the Ukraine war saying, "(We are) friends, but there is no choice."
Over time, President Trump has repeatedly blamed the war on Ukraine for provoking Putin. He claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who publicly declared Ukraine's NATO membership and violated the Minsk Agreement, and U.S. President Joe Biden, who funded Ukraine, started or allowed the war. On the 14th, he targeted President Zelensky, stating, "It doesn’t make sense to start a war with a rival bigger than oneself and then expect another country (the U.S.) to provide missile support."
While hostility towards Russia has eased, distrust of President Putin among Americans remains strong. Only 12% responded that they somewhat trust President Putin to "do the right thing on global issues." A total of 57% reported that they do not trust President Putin.
WP noted that "President Trump’s calls for negotiations to end the Ukraine-Russia war are changing Americans’ attitudes," adding that "this change is primarily due to shifts in U.S. diplomacy and policies towards Russia and Ukraine under President Trump."