A Levada survey shows that 62% of Russians consider Poland and Lithuania hostile, while the USA is perceived more as a competitor.

According to a survey conducted by the independent Levada center, presented in Berlin, the majority of the Russian population perceives Western countries as hostile, influenced by anti-Western propaganda and decades of armed conflicts. Sociologist Lev Gudkov highlighted a 'militarization of collective consciousness,' noting that Russia has had only six years without war in the last three decades. The survey revealed that 62% of respondents consider Poland and Lithuania to be hostile states, followed by the United Kingdom (57%), Germany (50%), and Sweden (40%).

Regarding the USA, 53% see them as a competitor, not as a direct enemy. When asked about friendly countries, respondents mentioned Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, India, and North Korea, most of which are authoritarian regimes. The perception of the United States has varied over time, deteriorating under the Biden administration, but improving with Trump's return, when hopes for a quick resolution of the conflict in Ukraine were fueled.