---
title: "Europe's Shield: Why Ukrainians Are Ready to Fight for Their Neighbors, and the US Recognizes the Ukrainian Armed Forces as the Strongest Army in the EU"
description: "Ukrainians are ready to defend their neighbors: 73% believe the AFU is containing the threat for all of Europe. The US Secretary of State recognized the Ukrainian army as the strongest in the EU. 🛡️🇺🇦🇪🇺"
date: 2026-05-27T14:39:33.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukrainians-ready-to-defend-neighbors-us-recognizes-afu-as-strongest-eu-army
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Europe's Shield: Why Ukrainians Are Ready to Fight for Their Neighbors, and the US Recognizes the Ukrainian Armed Forces as the Strongest Army in the EU

![Ukrainian soldier in camouflage holding a drone in tall grass](https://xab.info/media/2026/05/28/opros-ukraincy-gotovy-zashchischat-ssud-sosedei-ot-rossii/soldier-with-drone-in-field.webp)

The war that began on Ukrainian territory has long transcended the boundaries of a local conflict. It has become a global stress test for the entire European security architecture. But who, according to Ukrainians themselves, should protect this continent from a new wave of aggression? The results of a recent sociological study by the 'Rating' group provide a clear and unexpected answer for many.

### More Than a National Mission

Statistics show that Ukrainian society perceives its army not just as a tool for defending its own land, but as a universal guarantor of security for the entire region. More than half of the country's citizens are ready to support the participation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in the defense of neighboring states and the Baltic countries in the event of a direct Russian attack.

This shift in consciousness is the result of four years of fierce struggle. Almost three-quarters of respondents (73%) are convinced: when the AFU holds back Russian aggression, they are protecting not only the Ukrainian people but also other peoples of Europe. Only 23% hold a narrow view, believing that the army fights exclusively for national interests.

### Eurointegration as a Factor of Unity

It is interesting to trace the correlation between military position and political views. The opinion on the role of the AFU as the 'shield of Europe' is closely linked to the attitude towards joining the European Union. Among supporters of Eurointegration, 84% of respondents support this thesis. For them, the Ukrainian army is the de facto vanguard of European defense. Among those who are skeptical about the EU, there are fewer such people — 57%, but even this majority speaks of a high level of patriotism and understanding of global threats.

### Recognition in the West

The feeling of Ukrainians about their role as defenders of Europe finds confirmation at the level of strategic analysis in the United States. Secretary of State Marco Rubio openly stated that thanks to combat experience and Western support, the AFU has become the most powerful army in the European Union. This recognition sounds especially loud against the backdrop of the fact that the aggressor country has a significant advantage in resources.

Today, Ukrainian servicemen are not just fighting for independence; they are forming a new standard of security. From training American military personnel to identify drones by sound to being ready to stand up for the defense of their neighbors' borders — the AFU is evolving into a key element of global threat containment.