A recent survey has found that 89 percent of Hungarians believe that sanctions on Russia also hurt the European Union and its economy, and 71 percent said that they did not support expanding sanctions to energy resources, including natural gas and crude oil.
Economic researcher Századvég said the survey was based on phone interviews with 1,000 people in May and showed that 72 percent had a negative opinion on Russian President Vladimir Putin as against 68 percent in February. At the same time, 62 percent had a negative opinion on US President Joe Biden, up from 58 percent in February. A total of 65 percent had a negative opinion on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in May as against 52 percent in February. Századvég said this was likely the result of criticism voiced by Zelensky and several members of his government about Hungary because the Hungarian government continues to buy crude oil and natural gas from Russia and refuses to send weapons to Ukraine. Some 79 percent of respondents said they were against Hungary sending weapons to Ukraine.
Some 28 percent said that Putin’s Russia had the greater responsibility for the escalation of the confrontation, and 21 percent said that Ukraine was to blame. Some 50 percent of respondents said that Russia and Ukraine were both responsible for the situation. In March 2022, 32 percent of respondents said that Russia was to blame and only 13 percent said that Ukraine was responsible for the escalation of the conflict. Some 66 percent of Hungarians expect a protracted Russia-Ukraine war, as against 30 percent who said it would end in the near future. A total of 40 percent of respondents said the economic sanctions already introduced against Russia were sufficient and 31 percent said they were excessive. At the same time, 24 percent said the sanctions against Russia were not sufficient and they support extending them to natural gas and crude oil. Only 10 percent said that the sanctions against Russia did not have a significant effect on the EU economy.
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