Ivan Drago ain't got **** on Vladmir Putin

[Ace Boobtoucher]

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It doesn’t look like “Hope and Change” are working out for America, but apparently “Invasions and Games” seems to be pleasing most Russians.

One caveat – these polls were taken before the pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine shot down the Malaysian airliner.

The 29-percentage-point increase in Putin's job approval between 2013 and 2014 suggests he has solidified his previously shaky support base. For the first time since 2008, a majority of Russians (73%) believe their country's leadership is leading them in the right direction. This renewed faith is apparent in their record-level confidence in the country's military (78%), their national government (64%), and honesty of elections (39%).

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At the same time that their faith in their own leadership has been renewed, Russians' approval of the leadership of the U.S. and the EU are at all-time lows. The single-digit approval of the leadership of the U.S. and EU at least partly reflects Russians' displeasure with the position each has taken on their country's ongoing involvement in Ukraine and its annexation of Crimea. The U.S. broadened sanctions against Russia on Wednesday to target banks and energy companies, and EU leaders also say they intend to increase sanctions.