Poll Says Around 60 Percent Russians not in Favor of Military Interference in Ukraine

A poll conducted by the All Russian Public Opinion Research Centre and released Tuesday, says that over 63 percent of Russians are against sending troops to the strife- torn border region along eastern Ukraine.

The poll was done very recently in July and covered 42 Russian regions, reports the Russian agency ITAR Tass. Nearly 90 percent of Russians are aware of the ongoing conflict.

Twenty two percent were in favor of 'surgical strikes' and just over 10 percent thought that troops should be sent over to Ukraine. And 5 percent wanted Russia to remain neutral. Most wanted the issue to be resolved through diplomatic means.

The survey was conducted among 1,600 people in 130 towns and cities. The margin of error was about 3.4 percent, reports ITAR Tass.

 Russian Sentiments and Economic Sanctions

The survey is revealing of public opinion against the non-flexible stance taken by Russia in the face of threats of increasing economic sanctions by the Western world.

The United States and the Europeans Union reiterated their stance of strict enforcement of sanctions Tuesday, which were imposed after the Malaysian passenger jet was shot down by insurgents over Ukraine.

The European countries have agreed to exclude state owned Russian financial institutions from EU capital markets, imposed an embargo on any sales of arms and also restricted supply of energy and technology.

The United States sanctions, according to the Treasury Department, include penalties against  Bank of Moscow, the Russian Agricultural Bank and the VTB Bank. Also listed on the Treasury designation is the United Shipbuilding Corp, reports Fox News.

The sanctions, according to experts, will raise Russia's macroeconomic risks including a weakening ruble, a decrease in capital inflow and outflow and most importantly its energy sector will face some tough days.