In spite of a faltering domestic economy, Russian President Vladimir Putin is presently experiencing record high approval ratings – at 89 percent for the month of June – according to national polling data from independent research firm the Levada Center.
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Vladimir Putin (C) poses for a photo with members of the “Night Wolves” bikers’ movement after watching a friendly football match between Serbia’s FC Crvena Zvezda Belgrade and Russia’s FC Zenit St Petersburg junior teams at Marakana Stadium in Belgrade, on March 23, 2011.
“President Obama reiterated the need for Russia to fulfil its commitments under the Minsk agreements, including the removal of all Russian troops and equipment from Ukrainian territory”, the statement said.
These sentiments fall in line with the Russian president’s plan to put 22 trillion rubles (more than $400 billion) towards dozens of navy ships, hundreds of new planes, tanks, missiles, and other weapons by 2020. He added that the military modernization was not rooted in a desire to “settle any disputes exclusively by political means with respect to global law and interests of other nations”.
The ban on food imports from the European bloc and the United States, Canada, Australia and Norway became effective on 7 August, 2014. The action was likely in response to EU’s decision Monday to extend its sanctions against Russian Federation for six months. But despite the economic woes, Putin’s popularity has soared.
Putin and Obama also discussed the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria, and agreed to have Secretary of State John Kerry meet with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to talk about how to respond to the rising tide of radicalism in the Middle East. They discussed Iran’s nuclear program, too.
Levada head Lev Gudkov called the TV propaganda as the main factor behind Putin’s popularity.
“The Russians command, lead and enable a very capable force inside the Donbass that is also extremely well supplied”, said Breedlove, describing a region of eastern Ukraine.
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