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Russians Trust UN Most, NATO Least
Angus Reid Global Scan

Adults in Russia hold the United Nations (UN) in high regard, according to a poll by Bashkirova & Partners. 54.3 per cent of respondents say they tend to trust the UN, while 28.8 per cent disagree.

In 1991, the Russian Federation took the seat vacated by the Soviet Union as one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

The European Union (EU) was next on the list of confidence with 45.7 per cent, followed by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) with 37.8 per cent, the World Trade Organization (WTO) with 35.5 per cent, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) with 19.7 per cent.

In May 2004, Russian president Vladimir Putin achieved the backing of the EU in his attempt to secure Russia’s membership in the WTO. In February, finance minister Sergei Lavrov announced that the country is making progress in cooperating with the EU in four proposed "common spaces": finances, justice, external security, and research/education.

In March 2004, six former members of the Warsaw Pact—a military alliance of Eastern European Soviet countries—joined NATO.

Polling Data

To what extent do you trust or do not trust the following international organizations?

The United Nations (UN)
16.5% Completely Trust
37.8% Somewhat Trust
15.4% Somewhat Distrust
13.4% Completely Distrust

The European Union (EU)
11.5% Completely Trust
34.2% Somewhat Trust
17.3% Somewhat Distrust
12.7% Completely Distrust

Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
8.8% Completely Trust
29.0% Somewhat Trust
19.2% Somewhat Distrust
13.7% Completely Distrust

World Trade Organization (WTO)
8.3% Completely Trust
27.2% Somewhat Trust
21.6% Somewhat Distrust
16.7% Completely Distrust

North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO)
4.4% Completely Trust
15.3% Somewhat Trust
27.6% Somewhat Distrust
36.0% Completely Distrust