MOSCOW, August 13. /ITAR-TASS/. Nearly two thirds of Russians support President Vladimir Putin’s actions on Ukraine, an opinion poll suggests.

Sixty-three percent of respondents said his policies contributed to a peaceful settlement in the neighboring nation, state-funded opinion research cener WCIOM said on Wednesday. Forty-seven percent believed Putin’s main aim was to achieve peace in Ukraine, including in its war-torn Donbass region.

Returns canvassed from 1,600 people in 42 regions on July 27-28 showed that only nine percent of respondents thought the president’s remarks were escalating tension, while 18% said his statements had had no impact on events.

“One third, or 36%, said Putin wanted to keep NATO troops out of Ukraine while 33% believed the president’s mission was to protect the Russian-speaking population in eastern Ukraine,” WCIOM said.