Key facts
- Nearly 70% of Ukrainians support joining the EU, and over 60% support joining NATO.
- Over 55% of Ukrainians believe the country is moving in the wrong direction.
- Governmental corruption is perceived as 'very high' by 50.5% of respondents.
- Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and Valerii Zaluzhnyi are the most trusted political figures.
- 62.5% of respondents had negative views on Fedorov's dismissal.
A recent survey conducted by the Socis Center for Social Research reveals that a significant majority of Ukrainians continue to support their country's aspirations to join the European Union and NATO, despite widespread dissatisfaction with the current domestic situation. The poll, which surveyed 2,000 Ukrainians between July 28 and Aug. 2, found that nearly 70% favor EU membership and over 60% favor NATO membership.
These findings emerge amidst growing frustration within Ukraine, with over half of the respondents, 55.6%, believing the nation is heading in the wrong direction. Concerns about governmental corruption, attacks on critical infrastructure, and declining living standards were highlighted as the primary issues negatively impacting the country. Specifically, 50.5% of those polled consider corruption to be 'very high'.
The survey also indicated a pessimistic outlook for the near future, with 35.1% of respondents anticipating a worsening situation in the next year, compared to 23.3% who expect improvement.
Recent events have added complexity to Ukraine's integration aspirations. Days before the survey, Ukraine's Ambassador to the U.K. and former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi reportedly stated that Ukraine would 'never' join NATO. The Foreign Ministry later clarified that his remarks were taken out of context and primarily referred to the Joint Expeditionary Force.
Regarding political leadership, the survey identified former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and Zaluzhnyi as the most trusted figures. Fedorov's dismissal from his post has been met with significant public disapproval, with 62.5% of respondents expressing negative sentiments about his removal. A separate poll indicated Fedorov's trust rating surged to 65% following his ouster, surpassing President Zelensky.