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.
www.belsat.eu/en, following EUobserver