Although a solution to the crisis caused by Russia remains quite illusory, one must ask whether the Russian population agrees with the images of friends and enemies created by the country's leadership. A study by the Levada Center has found that the public thinks differently.

The majority of respondents consider both Belarus and the US to be both friends and enemies, with 58% and 66% of the population claiming so, respectively. 40% consider Ukraine an enemy of Russia, while Latvia and Poland occupy fourth place, although only 21% of Russians believe that these countries are enemies of Russia.

A similar picture emerges with Russia's greatest allies – China takes second place with 38%, followed by Kazakhstan with 34%. Armenia ranks fourth with only 16%.