New data from the Polling Europe survey reveals a complex and ambiguous picture of EU citizens' attitudes towards the prospect of Ukraine joining the bloc. While nearly half of EU citizens (49%) support Kyiv's membership, a noticeable decline in support is observed in several key countries. 39% of respondents opposed accession, while 12% were undecided.
Spain and Italy: Support with Caveats
Spain emerged as the leader in terms of support for Ukraine, with 65% of citizens in favor of the country's accession to the EU. Relations between Madrid and Kyiv have strengthened significantly since 2022: Spain has already trained over 9,000 Ukrainian military personnel and announced a defense aid package of €1 billion for 2026.
Italy also shows a positive outlook, with 52% of respondents voting "for." However, the majority of Italians emphasize that Kyiv must first carry out necessary internal reforms before expecting full membership.
Cooling Off in Leader Nations
At the same time, sociologists have recorded a deterioration of sentiment in three countries previously considered the most active supporters of Ukraine — France, Germany, and Poland. In these states, the majority of citizens oppose granting Ukraine full membership with voting rights.
The Polish Factor: Diplomatic Crisis and Historical Memory
Particular attention is drawn to the situation in Poland, where the level of opposition reached 49%. The survey was conducted in early July, immediately following a resonant diplomatic scandal between Warsaw and Kyiv.
The conflict intensified at the end of May when President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the honorary title "Heroes of the UPA" to one of the Ukrainian Armed Forces special units. This decision provoked a strong reaction from the Polish side. In Poland, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) is held responsible for the Volhynian tragedy of 1943–1945, which is recognized as a genocide of the Polish population.
Amidst the disputes over historical memory, Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle. Later, former Ukrainian presidents also refused this state award. Sociological surveys in Poland also showed a deterioration in attitudes towards Ukrainians: more than a third of respondents reported that their attitude towards Ukrainian citizens had worsened.
