Romanians appreciate the fact that Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are negotiating peace in Ukraine, but they do not have much trust in the American president, according to a new Avangarde survey compiled in February.

Respondents also said that they favor the European Union and NATO and do not want the dismantling of the American anti-missile shield at Deveselu.

Roughly 63% of Romanians who responded to the survey said they believe that the peace talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin regarding the war in Ukraine are a good thing, but only 39% say that the American leader will drive the future in a positive direction, while 21% believe he will favor a return to the past and revisionism. 

Only 6% of respondents have a great deal of trust in Donald Trump, while 16% have a lot of trust in him. On the other hand, 21% and 18% have very little and little trust in him, respectively. 36% feel ambivalent towards the US president, according to the survey, cited by G4Media.

Only 21% of Romanians say it would be good for the NATO anti-missile shield in Deveselu, southern Romania, to be dismantled, while 64% agree with keeping it operational. 

Meanwhile, 81% of Romanians agree with the country's membership in NATO, while the European Union enjoys a trust level of 74%. Regarding the political battles between the US and the EU, 49% of Romanians believe the country should side with the European Union, while 28% would side with NATO.

After coming in first in the now-cancelled first round of the presidential elections, far-right pro-Russian politician Calin Georgescu said he would “evaluate” the Deveselu shield. Russian authorities have repeatedly protested against the presence of the shield, a solely defensive military facility. 

Georgescu is credited with about 40% of votes in the upcoming presidential elections set to take place in May.

radu@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Andrii Yalanskyi | Dreamstime.com)