Europeans firmly back Ukraine as war with Russia nears 1st-year mark: Survey

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ISTANBUL (AA) - EU residents remain in favor of Ukraine, as 91% approve providing humanitarian support to Kyiv, a Eurobarometer survey said on Thursday, a day before Russia's war marks its first year.

The survey found that 91% of respondents agree with the provision of humanitarian support to Ukraine, while 88% are in favor of the EU hosting people fleeing the war.

Some 77% of those surveyed agreed that Ukraine should receive financial aid, while 74% favored economic sanctions against the Russian government, its businesses, and its people.

The majority of Europeans — 65% — are still in favor of the EU financing and supplying arms to Ukraine, with 67 agreeing with the prohibition of Russian state-owned media outlets.

Overall, most Europeans, 56%, are pleased with how the EU handled the Russian war in Ukraine.

Holding with a similar survey last summer, 77% of respondents also supported a common defense and security strategy among member states in the bloc.

A majority of 69%, meanwhile, believe that the EU needs to improve its ability to produce military equipment, and 80% think member states' purchases of military equipment should be better coordinated.