This report sums up the result of an opinion poll conducted in Ukraine and 7 countries of Central Europe in October 2022.
- The top three countries with a very or rather positive attitude towards Ukraine before the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, and now remain the same: Moldova, Lithuania, and Poland. The positive perception of Ukraine has increased in Lithuania (74% vs. 62% before) and Poland (61% vs. 53% before), while it has decreased in Moldova (62% vs. 71% before).
- More than half of the respondents in every surveyed country agreed that Ukraine should eventually become a full member of the EU. In most countries, a similar percentage is shown for NATO.
Authours:
Tetiana Kostiuchenko, Sergiy Gerasymchuk, Mariia Koval-Honchar
Ukrainians had visited Poland (38%) the most before February 24, 2022, and Ukraine was visited the most by Moldova (50%). The main reason for both was tourism.
In general, Ukraine is primarily associated with war, but also with neighbors and friends. The main associations of Ukrainians about each of the listed countries differ, they are “anti-Ukrainian” for Hungary, “Roma” for Romania, “wine” for Moldova and “help”, “friends” for other countries.
Ukrainians had the best attitude before the start of the full-scale invasion towards people from Poland (88% very or rather positive), Lithuania and Czech Republic (73% each very or rather positive). They have the best attitude now towards people in Poland (91% very or rather positive), Lithuania and Latvia (79% each very or rather positive). Ukrainians had the worst attitude towards Hungary (30% very or rather negative), and still have it (43% very or rather negative).
TOP-3 countries with a very or rather positive attitude towards Ukraine before the start of the full-scale invasion and now is the same. These are Moldova, Lithuania, and Poland. The positive perception of Ukraine has grown in Lithuania (74% vs 62% before) and Poland (61% vs 53% before) and declined in Moldova (62% vs 71% before).
The most well-known format of regional cooperation for Ukrainians is Warsaw-London-Kyiv format, while the most well-known format for countries belonging to the Visegrad Four is Visegrád Four respectively. Ukrainians show a high level of interest in almost all formats of regional cooperation, and for people from Romania and Hungary the format of Lublin triangle attracts the greatest interest.
More than half of the respondents in every country agreed that Ukraine should eventually become a full member of the EU and in most countries a similar percentage is shown for NATO.
Ukrainians tend to think that the most successful are Ukraine’s relations in matters of European integration while other countries mostly name matters of economic cooperation.The most problematic issues are about historical memory for all countries, including Ukraine.
According to respondents from all countries, the most effective way to resolve the military threat from Russia is on NATO level, and the majority think that the most effective way to resolve the energy crisis, economic difficulties, fighting inflation and stability of democracy is at the EU level.In the majority of countries people think that the most effective way to resolve radical political movements is at the EU level, while Ukrainians believe that the most effective way is at the national level of Ukraine (44%).
Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland are in TOP-3 by the readiness to personal inconveniences or economic difficulties in order to strengthen their country army (78%, 50%, and 40% reported “yes” or “rather yes”). Moldova, Slovakia and Czech Republic are rather unprepared for personal inconveniences or economic difficulties (56%, 54%, and 44% reported “definitely” or “rather not ready”).
Ukrainians think that Poland (50%) is more likely to become or already is a leader in Europe, and Ukraine ranks second (39%). Other listed countries tend to think so except for Czech Republic and Moldova. Also, Ukrainians think that Great Britain is more likely to become or already is a leader in Europe (55%), when other listed countries tend to think that Germany is more likely to become or be the one.
Based on the research, the largest number of people moved to Poland because of the Russian war in Ukraine: 78% of Ukrainians have relatives, friends or acquaintances who went to this country. TOP-3 countries with the highest level of migration experience are Poland (mean 5.98), Estonia (mean 5.80) and Lithuania (mean 5.76).
Ukrainians are well or somewhat informed the most about Poland (68% somewhat or very well informed) and also tend to search for information or news about political events and social life the most there (59% and 54%).
Most people in the polled countries of Central Europe don’t know personally anyone who moved to their country because of Russia’s war in Ukraine but feel rather positive towards Ukrainians who left for their country because of the war.
More than half of respondents from Lithuania and Poland tend to the fact that the Central European and Baltic states
should provide even more military and economic support to Ukraine, while Slovakia, Hungary and Czech Republic definitely or rather disagree with it. Respondents from Lithuania, Poland and Moldova also tend to the fact that the Central European and Baltic states should provide even more economic support to Ukraine.Respondents from Lithuania think that there is rather an insufficient number of NATO contingents on their territory (40% definitely or rather insufficient), in other countries respondents are rather satisfied with it.
Countries that mostly agree with the statement “Russian aggression in Ukraine is groundless” are Poland and Lithuania, 41% of respondents from Moldova rather agree with the statement “Russian aggression in Ukraine is a reaction to the decisions and actions of Western countries”. National interests prevail in the formation of
the foreign policy in Hungary (45%) and Poland (37%), compared to others.
The majority of respondents from all the countries feel the consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine in their country. The most popular consequences for all countries are rising prices for goods and utility services, threats to the security of the country.
The most popular sources of information about events in Ukraine for all the countries are national TV and national news websites, so respondents trust their country’s national media sources the most.
The majority support the joint condemnation of the crimes of communism and the joint condemnation of Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine.