Based on the fact that our country is engaged in an armed conflict, which has resulted in enormous territorial and economic losses, I think, Ukrainian people's attitude to Russia has changed significantly. Our survey results confirm this. 80% of the public define relations between Ukraine and Russia as bad or hostile. Another indicator is that most people do not see any prospects for improving relations between the two countries not only in the short or medium term, but also in 50 years. Among the public there is a perception that relations will remain unchanged or worsen — that is more than 70% of the population. And if there is optimism, only in the nearest 5–10 years. However, for now, no grounds exist for the attitude of Ukrainians to improve.

Myths are another extraordinary issue that is difficult to overcome. For example, if we talk about the myth of "one people", 60% of the Ukrainians believe that Russians and Ukrainians are different peoples. At the same time, a quarter of the population say it is one nation.

As for "brotherly nations", here we have more than half of the public believing that Ukrainians and Russians are fraternal peoples. Although compared to year 2016, this figure has dropped: it used to be 62%. But the question is what people are actually investing in this concept? If that means common historical heritage, originating from a Slavic nation, it is one thing; if the nature of relationship is brotherly, then there is another explanation. You cannot tell the percentage of reasoning in those 50%.

But it is a fact that Ukrainians have largely realized their distinctiveness as a result of recent events. More than 60% support the idea that Ukraine has a unique history, not tied to any other country. This is an indicator that Ukrainians perceive themselves as distinctive people, a distinctive nation. And these changes that we are observing today, have began in 2014.

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