Ukrainian society demonstrates a consistent demand for a European development vector; however, the dynamics of support for key Western institutions have undergone significant changes in recent months. Fresh data from sociological studies conducted by the Rating Group agency record a divergence between the high desire for integration and the critical perception of the actual pace of this process.
EU Integration: Consensus with Regional Nuances
The question of joining the European Union remains one of the most supported in the country. According to a survey conducted in three stages in the first half of 2026, an absolute majority of citizens support EU membership. Half of the respondents (50%) declared full support for this idea, while another 29% expressed that they are "rather in favor."
Only 10% of those surveyed hold the opposite position. The geography of support reveals an interesting nuance: while the consensus is practically complete in the west and center of the country, the level of absolute support is somewhat lower in the south and east — 44% and 43% respectively. At the same time, sociologists note that the most active supporters of European integration are people over the age of 51.
Crisis of Confidence in Reform Pace
Despite strategic agreement with the course towards the West, Ukrainians express deep disappointment with the speed of the changes taking place. More than 60% of citizens are dissatisfied to some extent with the pace of European integration. Only 5% of respondents are fully satisfied with the process, while another quarter (25%) assess the situation as "rather satisfactory."
This gap between expectations and reality creates tension in society: the people are ready for change, but demand an acceleration of reforms and concrete results.
Cooling of Interest in NATO
In contrast to the stable demand for the EU, support for joining the North Atlantic Alliance shows a downward trend. If a referendum on joining NATO were to take place in the near future, 63% of citizens would vote for it, while 12% would vote against.
However, sociologists record a worrying trend: compared to July of the previous year, the level of support for NATO integration has dropped by 7 percentage points. This decline against the backdrop of ongoing hostilities may indicate growing public fatigue or a revision of expectations regarding security guarantees.
External Context and Defense Obligations
Questions regarding Ukraine's integration into European structures remain complex from an external perspective as well. In particular, in neighboring Poland, there is a skeptical attitude towards this process: almost 60% of Poles oppose Ukraine's accession to the EU, with a third of respondents categorically rejecting this idea.
Nevertheless, Ukrainians are ready to take responsibility for regional security issues. More than half of citizens support the idea of the Ukrainian army participating in the defense of European states in the event of a Russian attack, which indicates a readiness to actively participate in the collective defense of the continent.