According to the experts of the European Council on International Relations, views on the war among residents of Ukraine and European countries differ significantly. The organization published the results of a large-scale sociological study, which reflected the attitude of citizens to the conflict in eastern Ukraine and its impact on European security.
The main results of the surveys are given below:
Ukraine in the EU
In different countries, the prospects of Ukraine's accession to the EU are assessed differently, but there are still more supporters than opponents (42.9% - for, 36.2% - against). Residents of Germany demonstrated the greatest opposition to Ukraine's accession to the EU (54% - against). The most supporters were found in Portugal (58%) and Estonia (57%).
Among the main reasons why EU residents do not want to see Ukraine in their composition, they name:
▫️EU will become less safe
▫️Ukraine is too corrupt
▫️EU will be forced to spend too much money to integrate Ukraine
The majority (32%) of respondents believe that Ukraine will join the EU within five years.
The end of the war
Few people believe that the war will end within a year (14.6%) (Ukraine itself hopes for this the most - 35%). The majority believe that the war will last from 1 to 5 years (46.8%). Almost 10% are sure that it will take more than five years to settle the conflict. There are also those who believe that the war will never end (3.2%).
Ukraine's potential victory in Europe was viewed with skepticism, only 15% rated this result as the most likely. In addition to those polled in Ukraine itself (58%), they believe in the victory of the Armed Forces, except in Estonia (38%). In general, the majority of respondents (39.7%) (including respondents from Ukraine) believe that the war will end with the achievement of some kind of compromise. 16.9% of respondents are confident in the victory of the Russian Federation.
There are serious differences of opinion in different countries about how EU countries should act. For example, the majority of Estonians (68%), Swedes (54%) and Poles (50%) believe that the EU should provide Ukraine with further military support in order to regain the occupied territories. At the same time, the majority of Bulgarians (61%), Greeks (59%) and Italians (57%) believe that Ukraine should be inclined towards negotiations with the Russian Federation.
In general, the situation was as follows: 36% - for the continuation of military support, 37.3% - for the start of negotiations.
Military aid
As for what exactly military aid to Ukraine should be, the respondents expressed themselves quite unambiguously. 72.1% of respondents are against sending their troops, 13.8% are in favor. 48.3% are in favor of increasing the supply of weapons and ammunition, 33% are against it.
Ukraine after the war
Only 22% are ready to exchange the occupied territories for NATO membership, 71% oppose such a scenario.
However, when respondents were offered two options:
1) Ukraine loses part of the occupied territories, but remains independent, with its own army and the free right to join NATO and the EU.
2) Ukraine regains all occupied territories, but agrees to demilitarization and neutral status without the possibility of joining NATO or the EU.
45% of respondents spoke for the first option, 26% for the second. Another 29% could not decide on a choice
