Editing Euroscepticism (section)

===Russia===
{{See also|Russia–European Union relations}}
[[File:Vladimir Putin 14 February 2008-7.jpg|thumb|upright|[[President of Russia|Russian President]] [[Vladimir Putin]] is an outspoken Eurosceptic who has promoted an alternative Economic Union with [[Armenia]], [[Belarus]], [[Kazakhstan]] and [[Kyrgyzstan]] – the [[Eurasian Economic Union]].]]

Parties with mainly Eurosceptic views are the ruling [[United Russia]], and opposition parties the [[Communist Party of the Russian Federation]] and [[Liberal Democratic Party of Russia]].

Following the [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|annexation of Crimea]], the European Union issued sanctions on the Russian Federation in response to what it regards as an "illegal" annexation and "deliberate destabilisation" of a neighbouring sovereign country.<ref>[http://europa.eu/newsroom/highlights/special-coverage/eu_sanctions/index_en.htm "EU sanctions against Russia over Ukraine crisis"]; via the official website of the European Union.</ref> In response to this, [[Alexey Borodavkin]] – Russia's permanent representative with the UN – said "The EU is committing a direct violation of human rights by its actions against Russia. The unilateral sanctions introduced against us are not only illegitimate according to international law, they also undermine Russian citizens' freedom of travel, freedom of development, freedom of work and others".{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}} In the same year, Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]] said: "What are the so-called European values? Maintaining the coup, the armed seizure of power and the suppression of dissent with the help of the armed forces?"<ref>"[https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/world/2014/09/01/ukraine-dismisses-russia-call-for-cease-fire/lZUwOWvk1fTMG1nXpH7TXL/story.html Ukraine dismisses Russia's call for cease-fire]". ''[[Boston Globe]]''. 1 September 2014.</ref>

A February 2014 poll conducted by the [[Levada Center]], Russia's largest independent polling organization, found that nearly 80% of Russian respondents had a "good" impression of the EU. This changed dramatically in 2014 with the Russian annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbas, resulting in 70% taking a hostile view of the EU compared to 20% viewing it positively.<ref>[http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_what_russia_thinks_of_europe5084 What Russia thinks of Europe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203153648/https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_what_russia_thinks_of_europe5084 |date=3 December 2018 }} 2 February 2016</ref>

A Levada poll released in August 2018 found that 68% of Russians polled believe that Russia needs to dramatically improve relations with Western countries. 42% of Russian respondents said they had a positive view of the EU, up from 28% in May 2018.<ref>{{cite news |title=Favorable Attitudes Toward U.S., EU Rising In Russia, Poll Finds |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/favorable-attitudes-toward-u-s-eu-on-the-rise-in-russia-levada-poll-finds/29407171.html |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=2 August 2018}}</ref>