A majority of residents in Germany favor the continuation of military support for Ukraine by European countries, with a significant portion of respondents advocating for increased assistance. A new sociological survey conducted by the research group Forschungsgruppe Wahlen for the ZDF broadcaster from October 20 to 22, 2026, reflects current sentiments in German society regarding geopolitical challenges and international aid.
Distribution of Views on Military Assistance
According to the survey results, 30% of German citizens support increased military aid to Ukraine from European states. Another 33% of respondents are satisfied with the current level of support, bringing the total of those favoring the maintenance or expansion of military assistance to Kyiv to 63%. Meanwhile, about 32% of those surveyed believe that current military support for Ukraine should be reduced.
Skepticism Regarding Diplomatic Settlement
The study also revealed substantial skepticism among residents in Germany regarding the willingness of the Russian leadership to agree to a long-term ceasefire. Only 16% of survey participants believe that the Russian president is genuinely interested in establishing a lasting truce with Ukraine. An overwhelming majority of 79% openly state that they do not believe in the sincerity of such intentions from Moscow.
Assessment of International Leaders' Stances
German citizens expressed diverse opinions regarding the role of the United States and Donald Trump's position in the ongoing conflict. Around 38% of respondents believe the American leader is more likely taking Russia's side, while only 1% think he supports Ukraine. At the same time, more than half of the study participants—57%—are convinced that the U.S. president maintains neutrality and is not on the side of either party to the conflict.
Context of Bilateral Cooperation
The published sociological data comes against the backdrop of developing practical cooperation between Kyiv and Berlin. Previously, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine announced it was working on expanding industrial cooperation with German defense companies. Additionally, it was reported earlier that Germany would provide even more weapons and intelligence data to support Ukrainian defense forces.
