Having many friends from that part of the world, Russians from the former Baltic States most left because of some discomfort living in those countries and for economic reasons.
Most would like to return to the motherland so to speak if they could and they all still feel a deep sense of patriotism although a couple are really blind followers of Putin most were not really happy with him on domestic issues they are behind him on the issues of eastern Ukraine.
And having numerous Polish friends there is a whole range of opinions. A few do dislike Russia but the vast majority are either neutral and some do see Russia as a fellow Slavic nation though they all dislike Putin many are fearful of the EU and NATO and neither positive towards America.
As you know the history between the two is rather fractious ie the sacking of Moscow, the Kosziuszko uprising, Katyn etc but they hope for better relations. A small minority are real Russophiles namely the older ones and they can also speak Russian too.
Most lament some of the social changes with reference to social care systems and also the huge amounts of endemic corruption. They also dislike Donald Tusk who they see as an American stooge.
|