MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The polled states are Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, Hungary, Greece, France and Sweden. They account for 82 percent of the EU total GDP, ans make up some 80 percent of the EU population.
"Majorities or pluralities in all the EU member states surveyed disapprove of the job being done by the institution in dealing with Russia. The strongest criticism comes from Greece (69%), Sweden (55%), France (53%), Italy and Hungary (both 52%)," the poll published on Monday said.
As for the further relations with Russia, almost 90 percent of the Greeks stand for "a strong economic relationship" with Moscow. Hungarians, Germans and Italians share the Greeks' sentiment.
Since 2014, the United States, the European Union and some of their allies have imposed several rounds of sanctions targeting key sectors of the Russian economy, as well as a number of individuals and entities, over Crimea’s reunification with Russia and Moscow's alleged involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Russia has repeatedly refuted the allegations, warning that the Western sanctions are counterproductive and undermine global stability. In response to the restrictive measures, Russia has imposed a food embargo on some products originating in countries that have targeted it with sanctions.
In late May, the G7 states — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States — decided to extend sanctions against Russia in June.
