More than 70% of Ukrainians support NATO membership

If a referendum on NATO membership were held this week, 71% of Ukrainians would vote in favor of membership, according to a poll conducted in mid-December by the Razumkov Center and Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Fund. 62% of respondents said they would participate in such a referendum, in which only 23% would oppose membership. 

The same poll revealed that NATO membership is considered by Ukrainians to be the best option for national security (selected by 44% of respondents), followed by non-bloc status (26%). Only 6% favor a military union with Russia. The poll was conducted among 2,108 respondents between Dec. 16 and 20. 

Zenon Zawada: Support for NATO membership has never been higher among the Ukrainian population. But unfortunately, it’s a bit late. The best chance Ukraine had for a Membership Action Plan was in 2008, when former U.S. President George W. Bush visited Ukraine and neo-conservatism was at its peak.

We see no hope for NATO accepting Ukrainian membership for at least the next five years as the West is headed towards a “rapprochement” with Russia (a re-establishment of cordial relations).

We believe the U.S. will continue to maintain military cooperation activities with NATO, and maybe even enhance them, despite the antipathy for NATO demonstrated by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.