Results of a public opinion poll held by the Razumkov Centre Sociological Service on February 22 – March 1, 2023 within the frameworks of the MATRA Programme supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine.
The opinions expressed are those of the authors only and should not be considered as representative of the Embassy’s official position.
Face-to-face interviews were held in Vinnytsia, Volyn, Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Transcarpathian, Zaporizhia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Sumy, Ternopil, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmelnytsky, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi regions and the city of Kyiv (in Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Kherson regions — only in the territories controlled by the Ukrainian government and free from hostilities).
The survey was conducted using stratified multistage sampling with random selection at the first stages and quota selection of respondents at the final stage (when respondents were selected on the basis of gender and age quotas). The sample structure reproduces the demographic structure of the adult population of the territories where the survey was conducted as of the beginning of 2022 (by age, sex, settlement type).
2020 respondents aged above 18 were polled. The sample theoretical error does not exceed 2.3%. At the same time, additional systematic deviations of the sample may be caused by the consequences of Russian aggression, in particular, forced evacuation of millions of citizens.
Attitude to foreign countries
Answering the question about the attitude to foreign countries, respondents most often reported a positive attitude to Poland (94%), Great Britain (91%), Lithuania (91%), Estonia (90%), Latvia (90%), Canada (90% ), Czechia (88%), the USA (88%), the Netherlands (86%), France (86%), Germany (85%), Moldova (82.5%), Slovakia (82.5%), Israel (75%), Japan (74%), Turkey (72.5%), Georgia (70%), Romania (69%), Armenia (66%), Azerbaijan (65%). A relative majority (46%) positively treats India.
A negative attitude was the most often reported to Russia (94%), Belarus (81%), Iran (73.5%), China (60%), Hungary (46.5%).
A negative attitude to Russia is shared by the vast majority of residents in all regions, from 90% of residents in the East to 97% of residents in the Centre. Among those who mainly speak Ukrainian at home, 95.5% have a negative attitude to Russia, among those who speak Russian — 88%.
Attitude to foreign politicians
The majority of respondents reported a positive attitude to the following foreign politicians: Boris Johnson (87%), Andrzej Duda (86%), Joe Biden (83%), Ursula von der Leyen (61%), Emmanuel Macron (59.5%), Recep Erdoğan (58%), Justin Trudeau (51%). The relative majority of respondents expressed a positive attitude to Olaf Scholz (50%) and Rishi Sunak (45%).
Negatively treated are Vladimir Putin (97% reported a negative attitude to him), Alyaksandr Lukashenka (92%), Viktor Orbán (60%), Angela Merkel (52%), Xi Jinping (51%), Donald Trump (49 %).
Attitude to Russian citizens
While in April 2014, a relative majority (45%) of Ukrainians reported a positive attitude to Russian citizens, in June 2017 — neutral (42.5%), according to the latest poll, only 2% of respondents treated them positively, 77% — negatively, 14% — neutrally.
4% of residents in the East and South, 2% of residents in the Centre and 0% in the West reported a positive attitude to Russian citizens. A negative attitude was reported, respectively, by 70%, 56.5%, 80% and 84%.
Among those who mainly speak Ukrainian at home, 0.6% reported a positive attitude to Russian citizens, as did 5% of those who speak Russian, while 82% and 59.5%, respectively, reported a negative attitude.
The vast majority (97%) of respondents have a negative attitude to the Russian Government and State Duma.
Attitude to international organizations and unions
Among international organizations and unions, the majority of respondents reported a positive attitude to the European Union (89), NATO (79), the UN (70), the International Monetary Fund (64.5), the International Committee of the Red Cross (63 %), the OSCE (58%), a relative majority — to the IAEA (48%). A negative attitude to the CIS prevails (65% have a negative attitude to it).
Assessment of the government's foreign policy
78% of respondents positively assessed the foreign policy of the Ukrainian authorities in wartime, only 6% — negatively. Foreign policy is praised by the vast majority of residents in all regions (from 73% in the East to 81% in the Centre), 83% of those who trust President V. Zelenskyy and 51.5% of those who do not trust him.
Respondents highly praised the efficiency of the country's foreign policy in all areas. That said, 87.5% termed as efficient the policy of strengthening relations with other countries and international organizations, 86% — improvement of the international image of Ukraine, its international standing, extension of the list of allied countries supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression; provision of external support for resistance to Russian aggression — 86%, promotion of Ukrainian initiatives on international platforms — 86%, dissemination of unbiased information about the war in Ukraine in the world — 85.5%, integration in the European Union — 81%, integration in NATO — 78%, defene of the rights of Ukrainians abroad — 72%, promotion of Ukrainian business interests on world markets — 67%.
Attitude to joining the European Union
If a referendum on Ukraine's accession to the European Union were held in the near future, 79% of all respondents would vote for joining this organization, or 92% of those who are going to participate in such a referendum (7% and 4% would vote against, respectively). In March 2021, 59% of all respondents, or 80% of those who were going to take part in the referendum, intended to vote for joining the EU (26% and 17%, respectively, would vote against it).
According to the latest survey, 86% of all residents in the West, 82% in the Centre, 73% of the residents in the East and 56% of the residents in the South would vote for joining the EU. The shares of those who would vote against it made 3%, 5%, 11% and 17%, respectively.
The younger the respondents are, the more they tend to vote for joining the EU — their share increases from 70.5% in the oldest (60 years and more) group to 83.5% among those under 30.
Among those who trust President V. Zelenskyy, 83% are going to vote for joining the EU (with 5% of those who are against it), among those who do not trust him — 54% and 21%, respectively.
Among those who mainly speak Ukrainian at home, 81.5% are going to vote for joining the EU (with 5% of those who are against), among those who mainly speak Russian — 70% and 12%, respectively.
SURVEY RESULTS IN TABLES
(data in the tables are given as percentages)
Now, I will read out to you a list of countries. Please tell me how positive or negative your attitude is to each of them.
|
Fully positive |
Mainly positive |
Mainly negative |
Fully negative |
Hard to say |
Balance of positive and negative attitudes* |
|
|
Azerbaijan |
21.8 |
43.0 |
12.2 |
1.7 |
21.2 |
50.9 |
|
Belarus |
3.1 |
9.3 |
24.4 |
56.3 |
6.9 |
-68.3 |
|
Great Britain |
59.7 |
31.4 |
3.3 |
0.9 |
4.7 |
86.9 |
|
Armenia |
20.8 |
44.9 |
12.5 |
3.2 |
18.6 |
50.0 |
|
Georgia |
28.5 |
41.2 |
15.3 |
3.3 |
11.8 |
51.1 |
|
Estonia |
55.0 |
35.1 |
3.1 |
0.6 |
6.2 |
86.4 |
|
Israel |
27.8 |
47.6 |
10.4 |
1.9 |
12.4 |
63.1 |
|
India |
12.7 |
33.6 |
24.7 |
7.8 |
21.3 |
13.8 |
|
Iran |
5.3 |
11.6 |
23.0 |
50.5 |
9.5 |
-56.6 |
|
Canada |
51.5 |
38.4 |
3.6 |
1.1 |
5.4 |
85.2 |
|
China |
7.7 |
17.3 |
37.3 |
22.5 |
15.1 |
-34.8 |
|
Latvia |
58.9 |
31.1 |
3.1 |
1.2 |
5.7 |
85.7 |
|
Lithuania |
59.6 |
31.1 |
3.0 |
0.9 |
5.4 |
86.8 |
|
Moldova |
34.9 |
47.6 |
7.0 |
1.0 |
9.5 |
74.5 |
|
The Netherlands |
44.0 |
42.1 |
3.4 |
1.2 |
9.2 |
81.5 |
|
Germany |
39.8 |
45.3 |
7.3 |
1.4 |
6 |
76.4 |
|
Poland |
73.6 |
20.6 |
1.5 |
0.9 |
3.4 |
91.8 |
|
Russia |
1.6 |
1.4 |
6.2 |
87.6 |
3.1 |
-90.8 |
|
Romania |
23.6 |
45.4 |
10.6 |
4.5 |
15.9 |
53.9 |
|
Slovakia |
34.2 |
48.3 |
5.4 |
1.7 |
10.4 |
75.4 |
|
USA |
52.3 |
35.5 |
6.3 |
1.4 |
4.5 |
80.1 |
|
Turkey |
23.6 |
48.9 |
13.1 |
2.3 |
12.0 |
57.1 |
|
Hungary |
15.1 |
24.0 |
26.3 |
20.2 |
14.4 |
-7.4 |
|
France |
34.9 |
51.2 |
6.8 |
0.6 |
6.5 |
78.7 |
|
Czechia |
43.2 |
44.6 |
5.2 |
0.3 |
6.8 |
82.3 |
|
Japan |
32.7 |
41.3 |
7.6 |
1.4 |
17 |
65.0 |
* Difference between the shares of positive and negative assessments
Now, I will read out to you the names of foreign politicians. Please tell me how positive or negative your attitude is to each of them.
|
Fully positive |
Mainly positive |
Mainly negative |
Fully negative |
No idea / never heard of |
Hard to say |
Balance of positive and negative attitudes* |
|
|
Joe Biden |
44.1 |
38.5 |
6.5 |
2.3 |
1.0 |
7.5 |
73.8 |
|
Boris Johnson |
59.2 |
27.8 |
4.5 |
2.2 |
1.2 |
5.1 |
80.3 |
|
Andrzej Duda |
58.6 |
27.3 |
3.4 |
1.4 |
3.5 |
5.8 |
81.1 |
|
Recep Erdoğan |
16.3 |
41.5 |
20.6 |
3.7 |
4.5 |
13.4 |
33.5 |
|
Alyaksandr Lukashenka |
0.5 |
2.8 |
15.9 |
76.3 |
0.3 |
4.2 |
-88.9 |
|
Ursula von der Leyen |
26.8 |
34.4 |
8.4 |
2.5 |
17.9 |
9.9 |
50.3 |
|
Emmanuel Macron |
14.2 |
45.3 |
20.2 |
4.6 |
3.7 |
12.0 |
34.7 |
|
Angela Merkel |
5.5 |
23.3 |
31.4 |
20.9 |
2.5 |
16.4 |
-23.5 |
|
Viktor Orbán |
2.6 |
11.8 |
25.6 |
34.2 |
13.8 |
11.9 |
-45.4 |
|
Vladimir Putin |
0.1 |
0.4 |
5.4 |
91.2 |
0.3 |
2.6 |
-96.1 |
|
Rishi Sunak |
20.7 |
24.2 |
5.6 |
3.7 |
34.6 |
11.3 |
35.6 |
|
Donald Trump |
5.6 |
23.7 |
28.2 |
20.8 |
3.7 |
18.1 |
-19.7 |
|
Justin Trudeau |
19.3 |
31.3 |
5.5 |
3.9 |
27.0 |
12.9 |
41.2 |
|
Xi Jinping |
1.7 |
10.1 |
27.7 |
22.9 |
19.7 |
18.0 |
-38.8 |
|
Olaf Scholz |
13.2 |
36.6 |
20.3 |
6.1 |
9.4 |
14.4 |
23.4 |
* Difference between the shares of positive and negative assessments
What is your attitude to the…
|
Positive |
Negative |
Neutral |
Hard to say |
|
|
Russian Government |
0.1 |
96.9 |
1.8 |
1.1 |
|
Russian State Duma |
0.2 |
97.0 |
1.8 |
1.1 |
|
Russian citizens |
2.0 |
76.7 |
14.2 |
7.0 |
Now, I will read out to you the names of some international organizations and unions. Please tell me how positive or negative your attitude is to each of them.
|
Fully positive |
Mainly positive |
Mainly negative |
Fully negative |
Hard to say |
Balance of positive and negative attitudes* |
|
|
European Union |
50.2 |
38.4 |
4.0 |
1.6 |
5.9 |
83.0 |
|
CIS |
5.1 |
11.7 |
20.8 |
44.4 |
18.1 |
-48.4 |
|
UN |
27.0 |
42.8 |
12.1 |
4.8 |
13.3 |
52.9 |
|
International Monetary Fund |
22.3 |
42.2 |
15.1 |
3.9 |
16.5 |
45.5 |
|
NATO |
45.1 |
34 |
8.0 |
4.2 |
8.7 |
66.9 |
|
OSCE |
19.6 |
38.1 |
14.7 |
5.5 |
22.1 |
37.5 |
|
International Committee of the Red Cross |
25.5 |
37.1 |
17.9 |
4.9 |
14.6 |
39.8 |
|
IAEA |
15.5 |
32.5 |
16.3 |
5.8 |
29.9 |
25.9 |
* Difference between the shares of positive and negative assessments
How would you assess the foreign policy of the Ukrainian authorities in wartime?
|
Positively |
38.2 |
|
Rather, positively |
39.9 |
|
Rather, negatively |
4.3 |
|
Negatively |
1.5 |
|
Hard to say |
16.1 |
Do you consider Ukraine’s foreign policy efficient in the following areas?
|
Yes |
Rather, yes |
Rather, no |
No |
Hard to say |
|
|
Winning international support to resist Russian aggression |
45.8 |
40.2 |
4.5 |
1.3 |
8.3 |
|
Promotion of Ukrainian initiatives on international platforms |
47.9 |
37.7 |
5.1 |
0.7 |
8.6 |
|
Strengthening relations with countries of the world and international organizations |
50.3 |
37.2 |
4.4 |
1.0 |
7.1 |
|
Integration in the European Union |
42.9 |
38.3 |
7.4 |
2.2 |
9.2 |
|
Integration in NATO |
41.6 |
36.0 |
8.5 |
2.5 |
11.4 |
|
Extension of the list of allied countries supporting Ukraine fighting Russian aggression |
50.4 |
35.7 |
5.3 |
0.9 |
7.8 |
|
Dissemination of unbiased information about the war in Ukraine in the world |
50.0 |
35.5 |
4.7 |
1.5 |
8.3 |
|
Improvement of the international image of Ukraine, its international standing |
51.1 |
35.1 |
4.9 |
1.0 |
7.8 |
|
Promotion of the Ukrainian business on the world markets |
32.8 |
34.2 |
9.8 |
2.3 |
20.9 |
|
Defence of the rights of Ukrainians abroad |
36.8 |
35.6 |
8.1 |
2.1 |
17.3 |
How would you vote, should you take part in a referendum on Ukraine’s accession to the EU?
|
Among all those polled |
Among those who plan to take part in the referendum |
|
|
I would vote for accession |
78.6 |
91.8 |
|
I would vote against accession |
6.9 |
3.9 |
|
Hard to say |
14.5 |
4.3 |
DYNAMICS OF SOME INDICATORS WITH TIME
Now, I will read out to you a list of countries. Please tell me how positive or negative your attitude is to each of them.
|
Fully positive |
Mainly positive |
Mainly negative |
Fully negative |
Hard to say |
Balance of positive and negative attitudes* |
|||||
|
Russia |
||||||||||
|
22.02–1.03.2023 |
1.6 |
1.4 |
6.2 |
87.6 |
3.1 |
-90.8 |
||||
|
5–9.03.2021 |
7.5 |
18.9 |
25.5 |
38.2 |
10.0 |
-37.3 |
||||
|
10–14.10.2014 |
7.2 |
16.1 |
19.5 |
44.4 |
12.8 |
-40.6 |
||||
|
30.09–8.10.2013 |
16.9 |
35.9 |
17.7 |
13.8 |
15.7 |
21.3 |
||||
|
USA |
||||||||||
|
22.02–1.03.2023 |
52.3 |
35.5 |
6.3 |
1.4 |
4.5 |
80.1 |
||||
|
5–9.03.2021 |
23.5 |
46.2 |
14.2 |
6.4 |
9.8 |
49.1 |
||||
|
10–14.10.2014 |
11.2 |
42.3 |
14.7 |
14.4 |
17.4 |
24.4 |
||||
|
Germany |
||||||||||
|
22.02–1.03.2023 |
39.8 |
45.3 |
7.3 |
1.4 |
6.0 |
76.4 |
||||
|
5–9.03.2021 |
24.6 |
54.6 |
9.7 |
3.0 |
8.1 |
66.5 |
||||
|
Great Britain |
||||||||||
|
22.02–1.03.2023 |
59.7 |
31.4 |
3.3 |
0.9 |
4.7 |
86.9 |
||||
|
5–9.03.2021 |
24.0 |
53.8 |
9.6 |
3.3 |
9.2 |
64.9 |
||||
|
Turkey |
||||||||||
|
22.02–1.03.2023 |
23.6 |
48.9 |
13.1 |
2.3 |
12 |
57.1 |
||||
|
5–9.03.2021 |
17.4 |
52.0 |
13.1 |
2.9 |
14.5 |
53.4 |
||||
|
Belarus |
||||||||||
|
22.02–1.03.2023 |
3.1 |
9.3 |
24.4 |
56.3 |
6.9 |
-68.3 |
||||
|
5–9.03.2021 |
16.8 |
41.6 |
19.8 |
11.2 |
10.6 |
27.4 |
||||
|
Moldova |
||||||||||
|
22.02–1.03.2023 |
34.9 |
47.6 |
7.0 |
1.0 |
9.5 |
74.5 |
||||
|
5–9.03.2021 |
14.5 |
50.8 |
13.7 |
3.9 |
17.0 |
47.7 |
||||
* Difference between the shares of positive and negative assessments
Now, I will read out to you the names of foreign politicians. Please tell me how positive or negative your attitude is to each of them.
|
Fully positive |
Mainly positive |
Mainly negative |
Fully negative |
No idea / never heard of |
Hard to say |
Balance of positive and negative attitudes* |
|
|
Recep Erdoğan |
|||||||
|
22.02–1.03.2023 |
16.3 |
41.5 |
20.6 |
3.7 |
4.5 |
13.4 |
33.5 |
|
5–9.03.2021 |
5.2 |
25.9 |
12.2 |
6.6 |
28.0 |
22.1 |
12.3 |
|
Joe Biden |
|||||||
|
22.02–1.03.2023 |
44.1 |
38.5 |
6.5 |
2.3 |
1.0 |
7.5 |
73.8 |
|
5–9.03.2021 |
14.9 |
35.0 |
15.1 |
11.5 |
5.5 |
18.1 |
23.3 |
|
Boris Johnson |
|||||||
|
22.02–1.03.2023 |
59.2 |
27.8 |
4.5 |
2.2 |
1.2 |
5.1 |
80.3 |
|
5–9.03.2021 |
10.5 |
30.5 |
11.8 |
6.4 |
24.1 |
16.7 |
22.8 |
|
Dunald Trump |
|||||||
|
22.02–1.03.2023 |
5.6 |
23.7 |
28.2 |
20.8 |
3.7 |
18.1 |
-19.7 |
|
5–9.03.2021 |
4.9 |
19.7 |
35.9 |
22.7 |
1.0 |
15.8 |
-34.0 |
|
Alyaksandr Lukashenka |
|||||||
|
22.02–1.03.2023 |
0.5 |
2.8 |
15.9 |
76.3 |
0.3 |
4.2 |
-88.9 |
|
5–9.03.2021 |
11.1 |
22.7 |
26.0 |
27.4 |
0.9 |
11.9 |
-19.6 |
|
10–14.10.2014 |
23.4 |
40.0 |
15.4 |
7.3 |
0.7 |
13.3 |
40.7 |
|
30.09–8.10.2013 |
14.3 |
34.3 |
15.7 |
15.0 |
2.3 |
18.4 |
17.9 |
|
Angela Merkel |
|||||||
|
22.02–1.03.2023 |
5.5 |
23.3 |
31.4 |
20.9 |
2.5 |
16.4 |
-23.5 |
|
5–9.03.2021 |
23.0 |
46.1 |
12.4 |
5.3 |
0.7 |
12.6 |
51.4 |
|
10–14.10.2014 |
9.4 |
39.7 |
19.7 |
11.9 |
1.2 |
18.1 |
17.5 |
|
30.09–8.10.2013 |
10.3 |
34.0 |
12.2 |
12.3 |
9.2 |
22.0 |
19.8 |
|
Vladimir Putin |
|||||||
|
22.02–1.03.2023 |
0.1 |
0.4 |
5.4 |
91.2 |
0.3 |
2.6 |
-96.1 |
|
5–9.03.2021 |
2.4 |
5.8 |
16.3 |
66.1 |
1.0 |
8.5 |
-74.2 |
|
10–14.10.2014 |
6.0 |
9.5 |
14.7 |
59.6 |
0.1 |
10.1 |
-58.8 |
|
30.09–8.10.2013 |
12.2 |
29.8 |
23.2 |
19.8 |
0.5 |
14.5 |
-1.0 |
* Difference between positive and negative attitudes
What is your attitude to the…
|
Positive |
Negative |
Neutral |
Hard to say |
|
|
Russian Government |
||||
|
April 2014 |
10.7 |
67.6 |
17.2 |
4.6 |
|
June 2017 |
3.1 |
76.3 |
16.1 |
4.5 |
|
February-March 2023 р. |
0.1 |
96.9 |
1.8 |
1.1 |
|
Russian State Duma |
||||
|
April 2014 |
10.2 |
66.6 |
17.9 |
5.3 |
|
June 2017 |
3.3 |
74.5 |
16.7 |
5.4 |
|
February-March 2023 |
0.2 |
97.0 |
1.8 |
1.1 |
|
Russian citizens |
||||
|
April 2014 |
44.9 |
16.6 |
32.5 |
6.0 |
|
June 2017 |
27.0 |
22.4 |
42.5 |
8.1 |
|
February-March 2023 р. |
2.0 |
76.7 |
14.2 |
7.0 |
Now, I will read out to you the names of some international organizations and unions. Please tell me how positive or negative your attitude is to each of them.
|
Fully positive |
Mainly positive |
Mainly negative |
Fully negative |
Hard to say |
Balance of positive and negative attitudes* |
|
|
European Union |
||||||
|
22.02–1.03.2023 |
50.2 |
38.4 |
4.0 |
1.6 |
5.9 |
83.0 |
|
5–9.03.2021 |
24.7 |
40.8 |
13.4 |
10.2 |
10.9 |
41.9 |
|
10–14.10.2014 |
15.0 |
46.1 |
15.3 |
10.4 |
13.2 |
35.4 |
|
30.09–8.10.2013 |
17.2 |
31.7 |
15.9 |
18.4 |
16.8 |
14.6 |
|
International Monetary Fund |
||||||
|
22.02–1.03.2023 |
22.3 |
42.2 |
15.1 |
3.9 |
16.5 |
45.5 |
|
5–9.03.2021 |
7.0 |
28.1 |
26.3 |
21.6 |
17 |
-12.8 |
|
10–14.10.2014 |
6.9 |
35.1 |
17.1 |
13.8 |
27.2 |
11.1 |
|
30.09–8.10.2013 |
4.0 |
23.4 |
18.3 |
21.5 |
32.8 |
-12.4 |
|
NATO |
||||||
|
22.02–1.03.2023 |
45.1 |
34.0 |
8.0 |
4.2 |
8.7 |
66.9 |
|
5–9.03.2021 |
18.9 |
34.1 |
16.5 |
17.9 |
12.6 |
18.6 |
|
10–14.10.2014 |
13.2 |
35.8 |
13.1 |
21.5 |
16.5 |
14.4 |
|
30.09–8.10.2013 |
4.4 |
15.2 |
19.0 |
40.6 |
20.8 |
-40.0 |
* Difference between the shares of positive and negative assessments
How would you vote, should you take part in a referendum on Ukraine’s accession to the EU?
|
% among all those polled |
% among those who plan to take part in the referendum |
|||||
|
March 2021 |
March–October 2022 |
February–March 2023 |
March 2021 |
March–October 2022 |
February–March 2023 |
|
|
For accession |
59.4 |
78.4 |
78.6 |
79.6 |
91.9 |
91.8 |
|
Against accession |
25.9 |
10.6 |
6.9 |
16.7 |
4.4 |
3.9 |
|
Hard to say |
14.7 |
11.1 |
14.5 |
3.7 |
3.7 |
4.3 |
