The readiness of Europeans to support Ukraine “until victory” has sharply decreased in the EU and the UK at a critical time for Kyiv.
This is evidenced by the results of a December YouGov poll in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, and the United Kingdom, The Guardian reported.
The survey showed that the Western Europeans’ readiness to support Ukraine until victory—even if it means prolonging the war—has declined sharply in all seven countries over the past 12 months.
The poll found that readiness to support Ukraine until it defeats Russia remains high in Sweden (50%) and Denmark (40%) and 36% in the UK, but these levels are down from January’s 57%, 51%, and 50%.
The percentage of people who favor a negotiated peace rose to 55% during the same period from 45% in Italy, 46% (38%) in Spain, 43% (35%) in France, and 45% (38%) in Germany, while the willingness to support Ukraine until victory decreased there.
It was unclear whether this change reflected a decline in interest or growing fatigue. In France, Germany, and Sweden, the share of those who want Ukraine to win—and are rooting for it to win—has remained stable since early 2023, although it has declined in other countries.
People in EU and UK believe that allied aid to Ukraine is not sufficient
A poll has shown that the majority of Western Europeans believe that Ukraine’s allies are not doing enough, both in terms of economic sanctions against Moscow and military and other assistance to Kyiv, to prevent Russia from winning the war.
According to the results of a December YouGov poll in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, and the United Kingdom, about 66% of Danes, 63% of Swedes and Spaniards, 59% of Britons, 53% of Germans and Italians, and 52% of French said that overall aid to Ukraine is insufficient.
However, few individuals hold the belief that their country should increase its support. A minority of respondents—29% in Sweden, 21% in the UK and Germany, 14% in France, and only 11% in Italy—believed their government should increase aid to Ukraine, while a larger share in each country said it should either maintain or reduce it.
When it came to specific measures, such as strengthening sanctions, supplying more weapons, sending more troops to support NATO members in Eastern Europe, or coordinating airstrikes against Russian targets in Ukraine, support was stable or lower than before.
When asked what they thought the situation would be like in a year’s time, few Europeans believed that either Russia or Ukraine would win, with most believing that both countries would either continue to fight or reach a peaceful settlement.
A settlement was considered more likely by respondents in Denmark (47%), Germany (40%), the United Kingdom and France (38%), and Italy (36%), while continued fighting was considered a slightly more likely scenario by respondents in Spain (36%) and Sweden (35%).
Most Europeans oppose peace at the cost of Ukraine’s territories
People in the EU are divided over how they feel about a peaceful settlement that would leave Russia in control of at least some of the parts of Ukraine it illegally seized after invading in February 2022, as US President-elect Donald Trump reportedly may be planning.
Majorities in Sweden (57%), Denmark (53%), and the UK (51%), as well as a significant minority (43%) in Spain, said they would have a very or somewhat negative attitude toward such a deal, compared to only 37% in France and 31% in Germany and Italy.
Any agreement regarding Ukraine remains uncertain. This week, Putin reaffirmed his maximalist goals, including Russian control of Crimea and four occupied Ukrainian regions, as well as the so-called “demilitarization” of Ukraine and a veto on its NATO membership.
Eurobarometer: Most Europeans support military aid to Ukraine
According to a Eurobarometer poll in November, an overwhelming majority of EU citizens continue to support the purchase and delivery of military equipment to Ukraine to help the country repel the Russian war aggression.
In the face of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, almost nine out of ten Europeans (87%) agree with providing humanitarian support to people affected by the war.
71% of EU citizens support economic sanctions against the Russian government, companies and individuals, and 68% agree with providing financial support to Ukraine.
58% of people in the EU countries agree that the European Union should finance the purchase and supply of military equipment to Ukraine.
