Recent sociological data demonstrates a mixed attitude in Ukrainian society toward the pace and quality of the country's preparation for European Union membership. According to a large-scale study conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KMIS) between September 12 and September 21, 2026, exactly half of the surveyed citizens believe that the current authorities are not fully fulfilling the obligations necessary for the country's prompt accession to the EU. At the same time, 46% of respondents hold the opposite view, positively assessing the country leadership's efforts on the European integration track.
Sociological Study Details and Methodology
The study was conducted as part of the all-Ukrainian public opinion poll using telephone interviews. Sociologists surveyed 1,002 adult Ukrainian citizens living in government-controlled territories at the time of monitoring. An important detail of the sample was the exclusion of citizens who were forced to leave the country after the full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022. The analysis of responses showed a high polarization of opinions: only 4% of respondents are convinced that the Ukrainian leadership is fully coping with all assigned tasks, while 16% believe that the authorities ignore or completely fail to fulfill their reform commitments.Context of European Reforms and Roadmaps
Ukraine's path to membership in the European community is viewed not only through the prism of internal reform, but also against the backdrop of institutional changes within the European Union itself. In particular, the European Commission is currently actively working on a large-scale reform that will potentially allow key decisions to be made without accounting for the national veto of individual member states. This innovation is expected to significantly simplify and accelerate the integration procedure for new states. In parallel, Brussels is preparing individual roadmaps for Ukraine, Montenegro, Moldova, and Albania, designed to clearly establish a step-by-step algorithm of actions and indicative timelines for completing the negotiation process.Contradictory Data
It is worth noting that the perception of Ukraine's European integration prospects varies significantly within the European space itself and changes over time. While discussions within Ukrainian society focus primarily on the effectiveness of their own government's work and internal barriers, the situation looks more complex abroad. For instance, sociological data in neighboring countries show mixed trends: some European citizens welcome the expansion of the union despite risks, while other studies record skepticism or open resistance from certain population groups (including figures in Poland), creating an additional external background for the negotiation process.
