Updated Aug 21, 2018 - World
Only 15% of Russians believe Kremlin interfered in 2016 U.S. election
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Just 15% of Russians believe the Kremlin interfered in the 2016 U.S. election, according to a new report from Pew, while 85% believe the U.S. government interferes in the domestic affairs of other countries.
Why it matters: The report's findings underscore feelings of suspicion toward the West held not just by members of the Kremlin, but by a significant portion of the Russian population itself. 80% of Russians view NATO as a military threat, while 82% believe U.S. sanctions are impacting the economy.
By the numbers:
- 72% believe Russia plays a more important role in the world now than it did 10 years ago, up 13% from last year. 61%, meanwhile, think Russia should get more respect around the world.
- Confidence in President Vladimir Putin's handling of foreign affairs (81%) has remained consistently high since the annexation of Crimea, with 51% believing the government should intervene in neighboring countries if they present threats to ethnic Russians.
- Domestically, rising prices (69%), corrupt political leaders (59%), the wealth gap (57%) and a lack of jobs (57%) are viewed as Russia's biggest problems.
Go deeper: Trump's dueling Russia policies.
