Marshall Fund research: Most Europeans would welcome Ukraine in EU, impose tougher sanctions on Russia


Most Europeans say Ukraine should be invited to join the EU and want tougher sanctions on Russia.

The narrow majority (52 percent) in favour of Ukraine’s EU accession emerged in a survey by the US think tank,the German Marshall Fund (GMF), carried out in June and published on September, 10.

The biggest supporters of membership were in Poland (69%), but also in Spain (62%) and Italy (58%). The biggest opponents were in Germany (63% against) and France (52%).

Two-thirds of Europeans overall said there should be stronger EU sanctions on Russia.

Around two-thirds also said the EU should provide economic and political support for Ukraine even if it causes a confrontation with Russia.

Europeans were split on whether Ukraine should join NATO, however: Forty six percent were in favour and 47 percent against. The majority (71%) were also against sending military supplies to Ukraine.

Presenting the survey in Brussels, the GMF’s Ian Lesser noted that pro-Ukraine feeling was already strong before pro-Russia separatists shot down MH17 and before Russia invaded mainland Ukraine.

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