Public Opinion in Ukraine on European Integration During Russia’s War Against Ukraine

The 2014 EU-Ukraine Association Agreement marked a new phase in the cooperation between Ukraine and the EU. Concurrently, there have been ongoing hostilities initiated by Russia against Ukraine since 2014, culminating in a full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. This study explores the shifts in public opinion regarding Ukraine’s European integration over the decade during Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and, concomitantly, between the signing of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and the formal opening of accession negotiations in 2024. The present research draws upon sociological data on public opinion on European integration, summarizing and comparing data from public opinion polls conducted by various Ukrainian and international institutions between 2014 and 2024. The study concludes that public opinion on European integration has become more favorable over the period analyzed. Moreover, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 led to a further consolidation of pro-EU sentiment across all demographic groups and regions, culminating in a notable increase in public support for EU membership (from around 60% in 2021 to around 80% in 2022–2024).