According to experts from the European Council on Foreign Relations, views on the war among residents of Ukraine and other European countries differ significantly. The organization has published the results of a large-scale sociological study that reflected citizens' attitudes towards the conflict in eastern Ukraine and its impact on European security.
The main results of the surveys are presented below:
Ukraine in the EU
Different countries assess the prospects of Ukraine joining the EU differently, but there are still more supporters than opponents (42.9% - for, 36.2% - against). The greatest opposition to Ukraine's accession to the EU was demonstrated by residents of Germany (54% - against). The largest number of supporters was found in Portugal (58%) and Estonia (57%).
Among the main reasons why EU residents do not want to see Ukraine as part of their membership are:
▫️The EU will become less secure
▫️Ukraine is too corrupt
▫️The EU will have to spend too much money to integrate Ukraine
The majority (32%) of those surveyed believe that Ukraine will join the EU within five years.
End of the war
Few people believe that the war will end within a year (14.6%) (Ukraine itself is the most hopeful – 35%). Most 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 resolve the conflict. There are also those who believe that the war will never end (3.2%).
The potential victory of Ukraine in Europe was viewed with skepticism, with only 15% assessing this outcome as the most likely. In the victory of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, apart from respondents in Ukraine itself (58%), only those in Estonia (38%) believe in it. In general, the majority of respondents (39.7%) (including respondents from Ukraine) believe that the war will end with some kind of compromise. 16.9% of respondents are confident in the victory of the Russian Federation.
There are serious differences of opinion across countries on how EU countries should act. For example, a majority of Estonians (68%), Swedes (54%) and Poles (50%) believe that the EU should provide further military support to Ukraine to retake the occupied territories. At the same time, a majority of Bulgarians (61%), Greeks (59%) and Italians (57%) believe that Ukraine should be encouraged to negotiate with Russia.
In general, the situation was as follows: 36% were in favor of continuing military support, 37.3% were in favor of starting negotiations.
Military aid
Regarding what military aid to Ukraine should be, respondents expressed themselves quite clearly. 72.1% of respondents are against sending their troops, 13.8% are in favor. 48.3% are in favor of increasing supplies of weapons and ammunition, 33% are against.
Ukraine after the war
Only 22% are ready to exchange 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 supported the first option, 26% supported the second. Another 29% could not decide on a choice
