Republican Party candidate Donald Trump is Russia's favorite to win the U.S. presidential elections, a survey by the state-backed Public Opinion Fund (FOM) pollster has revealed.
Some 44 percent of respondents said that a Trump victory would be in Russia's interests, while just 7 percent backed Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton.
Twenty-three percent said that the outcome would not matter for Russia, with another 27 percent struggling to answer.
The majority of respondents (61 percent) held negative views of Clinton, the survey found. Thirty-eight percent of those surveyed said that ties between Moscow and Washington would suffer if Clinton entered the White House, while 35 percent said relations would remain unchanged. Only 8 percent viewed Clinton positively, and one in ten claimed that Russia's relations with the U.S. would improve.
While 38 percent of Russians rated Trump positively, one in five said that they held negative views. Thirty-seven percent said that U.S-Russian relations would improve if the Republican took office, with 38 percent foreseeing no change. Just 6 percent said that ties would worsen.
Respondents also believed that Trump would ultimately win the election. Thirty-six percent said that the businessman would enter the Oval Office, compared to 31 percent who believed in a Clinton victory.
The U.S presidential elections will be held on Nov. 8.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
