Russians do not expect new world war – poll

(Interfax – MOSCOW, July 8, 2013) The majority of Russians (65%) do not foresee a new world war, although 35% describe interstate relations as tense or even hostile, the Russian Public Opinion Study Center (VTsIOM) said on Monday as it posted June poll outcomes.

Muscovites and St. Petersburg residents (42%), residents of mid-sized cities (40%) and supporters of non-parliamentary parties (52%) are prone to believe in interstate tensions.

Forty-five percent of the respondents called the global situation neutral, and 13% said it was amicable. Optimistic opinions were mostly expressed by residents of million plus cities (17%), United Russia voters (19%) and respondents aged from 18 to 24 (19%). The international situation was pictured as neutral by people in big cities (52%) and A Just Russia supporters (50%).

Some 65% gave a negative answer to the question whether they saw any signs of an approaching world war. The others pointed to conflicts in the Middle East (9%), the aggressive policy of the U.S. (4%), local wars (3%), the aggressive behavior of people (2%) and general instability (5%).

Egypt is on the brink of a civil war, President Vladimir Putin said during his working visit to Astana on Sunday. There is a civil war in Syria and, unfortunately, Egypt is headed in the same direction, the president said. “We wish that the Egyptian people will be spared that,” Putin said.

The conflict in Syria started in March 2011. The UN said it had killed at least 93,000 people.