Europeans continue to support Ukraine despite Russia’s influence campaign

Most Europeans continue to support Ukraine, despite Russia’s influence and disinformation campaigns targeting Europe revealed over the last few months.

The following are the findings from the Eurobarometer survey on Ukraine:

• 87% of Europeans agree with the provision of humanitarian aid to people affected by the war;
• 83% agree that the EU should accept people fleeing war;
• 72% of EU citizens support economic sanctions against the Russian government, companies, and individuals;
• 70% agree with providing financial support to Ukraine.

Six in ten approve of the EU financing the purchase and supply of military equipment to Ukraine and of the EU granting candidate status to Ukraine, Eurobarometer reported.

It shows that Ukraine and the West have defeated Russia’s months-long attempts to persuade audiences in the EU and the US to stop providing aid to Ukraine, thus ensuring pre-requisites for the destruction of its defense. It was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). 

The disclosure of Voice of Europe, a pro-Russian platform in Europe, significantly undermined Russian efforts to spread its influence in the West. Moreover, the exposure of several networks of pro-Kremlin disinformation sites, particularly in France, has significantly harmed Moscow’s efforts. However, there are still many online media outlets that spread Russian narratives and demonize the West, blaming it for the war that the Putin regime started in Ukraine.

However, the Kremlin is likely to launch new influence and disinformation campaigns. One of the latest narratives promoted by Kemlin and the pro-Russian media claims that the Ukrainian president is not legitimate.

Since the fall of 2023, Russian troops have been conducting offensive operations aimed at convincing the West to abandon its commitments to Ukraine, and the long-running US debate over aid for Kyiv has likely convinced the Kremlin that its efforts have been partially successful, military analysts say.

The consequences of the delayed military aid have created the conditions for Russian forces to make more significant gains on the battlefield. The Russian command probably concluded that Russian troops would be able to destroy the Ukrainian front line in the short to medium term.

However, despite this, Ukrainian defense forces prevented the Russian invading troops from making significant operational progress and limited the areas where they were able to achieve significant tactical success, military analysts said.

However, the U.S. decision to resume aid and Europe’s increased efforts to mobilize support for Ukraine marked the failure of Russia’s attempts to convince the West to accept Moscow’s victory, ISW experts concluded.

Over the past seven months, the course of operations has likely convinced Russian dictator Putin that continuous offensive operations will allow Russia to gradually conquer Ukraine and destroy Ukrainian statehood “piece by piece.”

According to analysts, Putin has likely concluded that weakening Western support for Ukraine will eventually become a valid theory of victory for him and will likely continue his efforts to convince the West to surrender and allow Russia to destroy Ukrainian statehood. It’s obvious that Russia’s military efforts will be supported by its influence and disinformation campaigns, as it has a network of ‘friendly’ media outlets in the West.