▁figure ▁since ▁ 2 0 0 0 ▁and ▁a ▁ten - point ▁drop ▁over ▁two ▁years . ▁By ▁May ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁following ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁Ukrain ian ▁revolution ▁and ▁an nex ation ▁of ▁Crime a , ▁Put in ' s ▁appro val ▁rating ▁had ▁reb ounded ▁to ▁ 8 5 . 9 %, ▁a ▁six - year ▁high . ▁ ▁After ▁EU ▁and ▁U . S . ▁san ctions ▁against ▁Russian ▁officials ▁as ▁a ▁result ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁pro - Russ ian ▁un rest ▁in ▁Ukraine , ▁Put in ' s ▁appro val ▁rating ▁reached ▁ 8 7 ▁percent , ▁according ▁to ▁a ▁Lev ada ▁Center ▁survey ▁published ▁on ▁ 6 ▁August ▁ 2 0 1 4 . ▁In ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 5 , ▁based ▁on ▁new ▁domestic ▁pol ling , ▁Put in ▁was ▁ranked ▁the ▁world ' s ▁most ▁popular ▁politician . ▁In ▁June ▁ 2 0 1 5 , ▁Put in ' s ▁appro val ▁rating ▁clim bed ▁to ▁ 8 9 %, ▁an ▁all - time ▁high . ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁the ▁appro val ▁rating ▁was ▁ 8 1 %. ▁ ▁Ob ser vers ▁see ▁Put in ' s ▁high ▁appro val ▁ratings ▁as ▁a ▁consequence ▁of ▁significant ▁improvements ▁in ▁living ▁standards , ▁and ▁Russia ' s ▁re assert ion ▁of ▁itself ▁on ▁the ▁world ▁scene ▁during ▁his ▁presiden cy . ▁ ▁Despite ▁high ▁appro val ▁for ▁Put in , ▁confidence ▁in ▁the