PRINCETON, N.J., Feb. 13 (UPI) -- A majority of Americans said they view Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia unfavorably, results of a Gallup poll released Thursday indicated.
Putin and Russia score the highest unfavorable ratings -- 63 percent and 60 percent -- that Gallup has recorded for them in the past 20 years, Gallup said.
The unfavorable view maintains the downward spiral in Americans' opinions since Putin returned to Russia's presidency in 2012, Gallup said. While the unfavorable ratings of Russia are at an all-time high, Americans' perceptions of the world power have not always been positive in the years since the former Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.
Gallup first asked Americans about Russia in 1994. Since then, Americans have expressed the most positive views in 2002, with 66 percent rating the country favorably, the Princeton, N.J., polling agency said.
Results are based on nationwide telephone interviews with 1,018 adults conducted Feb. 6-9. The margin of error is 4 percentage points.
