MOSCOW. July 23 (Interfax) - Most Russians have benevolent attitudes toward the U.S., although the share of those who believe relations between Moscow and Washington are good has somewhat declined over the past five years, a poll by the VTsIOM public opinion survey center found.

About 50% of the respondents had positive attitudes toward the U.S. in mid-June 2008 as well as five years ago, VTsIOM told Interfax on Wednesday.

The number of people who said they have a negative attitude to the U.S. has declined to 29% from 40%, and the number of those undecided has grown to 22% from 12% over this time.

The poll showed that the share of those reacting positively to the U.S. is highest among the respondents aged from 18 to 24 - 59%.

The number of those viewing relations between Moscow and Washington as good has declined to 54% in 2008 from 64% in 2003.

Asked to describe relations between Russia and the U.S., 41% said they are "fine and calm" in 2008. Five years ago, this opinion was shared by 47%. Only 5% of Russians believe now they are "friendly," compared to 7% in 2003.

More than a quarter of those polled - 27% - describe relations between Russia and the U.S. as "lukewarm" (22% in 2003), 12% as "strained" (7%), and 2% as "hostile" (1%).