Moscow, 1 April: Most Russians react negatively to the prospect of Ukraine and Georgia joining NATO, opinion polls have shown.

Thus, according to Levada-Centre pollsters, three-quarters (74 per cent) of Russian polled in March said that Ukraine's possible accession to NATO poses a threat of the national security of the Russian Federation. Even more respondents (77 per cent) find Georgia's (possible) accession to NATO unacceptable.

The number of Russians who have negative emotions regarding Ukraine's and Georgia's possible NATO membership: 11-12 per cent of those polled do not see it as a threat, according to the Levada-Centre survey the results of which were given to Interfax on Tuesday (1 April). (Passage omitted).