What do Europeans think about the war in Ukraine? News. Last Minute EUROPE, France, CURRENT, Netherlands, England, Spain, Russia headlines and events

While Europe is experiencing the political and economic turmoil of a Russo-Ukrainian war on the cusp, European support for Ukraine, which resisted Russian attack in the first year of the war, continues, albeit diminishing.

A comprehensive survey conducted by research firm IFOP for the Jean Jaures Foundation think tank found that the highest support for Ukraine was 83 percent and the highest support for Russia was 23 percent among European countries. But the survey also showed a gradual decline in the popularity of the Ukrainian case in Europe.

In terms of views and support for Ukraine, the European continent is divided into the camps of Germany, France and Italy against the camps of Poland, England, Spain and the Netherlands. In Europe, where support for Ukraine and approval of sanctions against Russia continues, the deepest division is observed in the issue of “military assistance and heavy weapons.”

Poland’s support for Ukraine, which has shifted the balance of power in Europe in its favor by taking a firm stance on Ukraine’s side since the start of the war, is also very clear in the poll.

Like the Polish government, Poles are at the forefront of polls in all areas.

In the poll, which analyzed European public views on the Ukrainian-Russian war that ended a year ago almost like an X-ray, the public supports Ukraine in the majority, but this support differs significantly between the east and west of Europe. But the poll highlights the fact that popular support for Kyiv remains strong, “even as it wanes.”

82% have a positive attitude towards Ukraine and 23% towards Russia.

According to IFOP President Jerome Fourke, there is a consensus among European countries on economic sanctions against Russia, but Europeans are divided into two camps on military support. The results of the study “Ukraine after one year in Europe”, prepared by IFOP, are as follows:

Despite the great hardships of the European people because of the war, Ukraine continues to enjoy wide popularity in Europe. But there are nuances in the heat of Ukraine’s popularity and the rejection of Russia.

According to the survey, the number of those who have a “positive opinion” about Ukraine in Germany is reduced to 61 percent, while in England this figure rises to 82 percent. According to a poll that favors Ukraine in England and Poland, 82 percent of Britons and 79 percent of Poles have a positive opinion of Ukraine.

Poland is followed by Spain with 74 percent and the Netherlands with 71 percent. Although the level of positive forecasts is high, this rate is declining in other European countries. The proportion of those who have a positive attitude towards Ukraine is 64% in France, 62% in Italy and 61% in Germany. The survey also shows a high degree of overlap between national public opinion and government policies.

Slowly “eroded” support

Even if the European public has clearly chosen its side in this conflict, the almost year-long conflict, the repeated demands for more weapons from Kiev than ever before, and the consequences of this war for the international economy are undoubtedly the European side of the Ukrainian affair, fueled by fatigue and anxiety about the escalation of the conflict, creates a gradual erosion of its popularity in

The survey shows that French, German and Italian public opinion acted jointly on Ukraine. According to the IFOP, which has conducted four separate polls since the start of the Russian attack, positive attitudes towards Ukraine in France and Germany are declining significantly.

In France, the 82% positive opinion expressed at the start of the war drops to 64%, and in Germany from 86% to 61%. The same trend is emerging in Italy; Positive opinions, which were 80% at the beginning of the war, drop to 62% by the end of the year.

This wear and tear is also visible in Poland and Spain, Ukraine’s biggest supporters. Positive opinions in Poland in March 2022 were 91 percent, while today they are 79 percent. In Spain, erosion is less pronounced, dropping from 80 percent to 74 percent.

Russia’s popularity is low

According to the poll, even in Italy, where Russia’s popularity is the highest, it stands at 23 percent. This figure drops to 21 percent in Germany, 16 percent in France, 15 percent in England, 12 percent in the Netherlands and Spain, and 9 percent in Poland, the lowest.

The startling fact revealed by the survey is that since March 2022, Ukraine’s popularity has declined but remained high, while Russia’s popularity has not recovered. In other words, the opinion in Europe that “Russia is an aggressor and attacks the sovereignty of an independent country” does not change.

Perceived positive opinions of Russia declined from 21% in France at the start of the war to 16% a year later. It remains stable in Germany, Poland and Spain. In Italy, where positive attitudes towards Russia are highest, there has been a slight increase; The positive forecast, which at the beginning of the war was 13 percent, today rises to 23 percent.

Most support sanctions against Russia

Although the economic sanctions imposed by Europe against Russia have negative consequences for the European economy, such as rising energy prices and a surge in inflation, the vast majority of the population continues to support these economic sanctions against Russia. Germany and Italy, which have suffered the heaviest economic costs of sanctions against Russia, are also the least supportive of sanctions.

Once again, Poland leads in support for sanctions with 86 percent and England with 77 percent; These two countries are followed by Spain with 77 percent and the Netherlands with 73 percent. Residents in France, Germany and Italy are less convinced than other countries: 67 percent in France, 65 percent in Italy and 62 percent in Germany support sanctions.

Support for sanctions has also declined since the start of the war. It decreases from 91% to 86% in Poland, from 82% to 77% in Spain, from 72% to 67% in France and from 80% to 65% in Italy. In Germany, which is going through a difficult period due to dependence on Russian gas, this support drops by 18 points from 80 to 62 percent.

Europe is divided over the supply of weapons

A broad consensus on sanctions is giving way to “differences” over arms transfers. The supply of weapons to Ukraine divides Europeans both within countries and between them. According to the survey, the differences between countries very clearly show the polarization of France, Germany and Italy in relation to Poland, England, Spain and the Netherlands.

Strengthening itself in Europe with its unconditional support for Ukraine, Poland is also the biggest advocate of strong arms supplies to Ukraine. The supply of European weapons to Ukraine is supported by 80 percent of the Poles, 70 percent of the British, 67 percent of the Dutch and 60 percent of the Spaniards. On the contrary, it is supported by 54 percent of the French, 52 percent of the Germans and 49 percent of the Italians.

Since the beginning of the war, this support has decreased by 14 points in Germany, by 11 points in Poland and France, and by 8 points in Italy. The poll also shows that the public’s views on arms transfers are in line with those of their governments.

Support for Ukraine’s candidacy for the EU

While Zelensky received a standing ovation at the European Parliament in Brussels last week, European views on Ukraine’s accession to the EU are also divided. Again, the Poles 82% and the British 80% are “highly supportive” on this issue, where similar differences emerge between different groups of countries. Ukraine’s candidacy is supported by 79 percent of Spain, 64 percent of the Netherlands and 63 percent of Italy. However, this support is reduced to 55 percent in France and 52 percent in Germany.

During the year, support for the candidacy of Ukraine in Germany decreases, most of all 16 points. “If Ukrainians want to join the EU, they will have to focus their diplomatic efforts on the Franco-German couple, whose population today seems to be most reluctant to have such an opportunity,” analyzes IFOP President Jérôme Fourke.

Fourke also said that such strong support for the candidacy came to Ukraine from the UK that left the EU, adding: “The strong approval of our neighbors across the Channel for Ukraine’s accession to the EU, their strong sympathy for the Ukrainian cause and perhaps some support their own country’s EU membership,” Fourke said. It reflects the sadness he felt leaving him.”

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