Survey: Support for Ukraine drops in Poland, Romania, but rises in Scandinavia

Support for Ukraine among Europeans is declining in NATO and in the European Union member states of Poland and Romania, but is rising in Scandinavia, according to an international academic study by EUI–YouGov, reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

The findings concluded that overall support for Ukraine in Europe remains high, though some countries are seeing a decline.

The survey respondents of nearly 30,000 people across 22 European countries found that 43 percent of EU citizens would be willing to defend Ukraine in the event of military aggression — roughly the same level of commitment as for Greenland, which is a Danish territory.

Professor Dietlind Stolle of the European University Institute suggested that the decline in Poland may be due to “solidarity fatigue,” while in Romania it could be linked to conflicting political attitudes.

Decreases in support are also noticeable in Western Europe, including France, Germany, and Italy. Contributing factors include inflation, the energy crisis, and the growing influence of far-right parties.

In contrast, solidarity with Ukraine remains strongest in Denmark, Sweden, and Finland, with little change since 2022.

Most Europeans are still reluctant to increase defense spending. However, 60 percent support the creation of a joint European army, viewing it as an effective peacekeeping mechanism.

The full EUI–YouGov report is expected to be released by the end of October.