More Ukrainians support EU integration than Customs Union, poll says

More than 41 percent of Ukrainians support joining the European Union, compared to 31 percent in favor of the Customs Union consisting of the Russian Federation, Belarus and Kazakhstan, according to a poll released on August 21, conducted by the Razumkov Center and Democratic Initiatives Fund both of which are financed by Western grants. More than 13 percent oppose joining either supranational structure, while another 13 offered no opinion on the matter.

Only 21 percent of those polled had visited a Western country, while 79 percent had never visited. More than 34 percent of Ukrainian considered themselves Europeans, while more than 55 percent didn’t consider themselves Europeans. The poll surveyed 2,010 respondents between May 17 and 22, with a 2.3 percent margin of error.

Zenon Zawada: The poll confirms that more Ukrainians support, rather than oppose, the signing of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement on November 28-29 at the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius.

 Ironically, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych campaigned on closer integration with the Russian Federation. So even if he signs the Association Agreement, he won’t have the support of Ukraine’s pro-Western electorate, which is staunchly opposed to his rule that has been described as authoritarian by certain EU authorities. Therefore, Yanukovych will have difficulty getting re-elected in February 2015 and might resort to extraordinary measures to remain in power.