A nationwide survey carried out by the Sociological Group Rating shows that 86% of the polled would support Ukraine’s integration to the European Union in case of a referendum (3% – against, 7% – would not vote).
Support for joining NATO is the highest in the history of observations:
- 83% would support this initiative in a referendum,
- 13% would not vote,
- 4% – against it.
Unlike the EU, the accession to NATO is somewhat more cautiously perceived by the residents of the East (69% – for accession, 9% – against, 17% – would not vote). Nevertheless, the dynamics of support for joining the Alliance is very positive (in June – 55% for, 20% against, 22% would not vote).
The survey was conducted on October 1-2 among the population of Ukraine aged 18 and older in all regions, except for the occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas, as well as territories where there was no Ukrainian mobile communication at the time of the survey.
On September 30, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Kyiv was applying for NATO membership under an accelerated procedure. NATO responded that this requires the consent of all 30 members of the North Atlantic Alliance.
This happened after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees on the “accession” to Russia (in fact, annexation) of the partially occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions.
Both Ukraine and the West condemned these illegal actions of Moscow. Due to the attempted annexation of Ukrainian territories, some countries, including the UK and Canada, have already imposed sanctions against Russia.