Study: Europeans Prefer UK to Ukraine in EU Enlargement

A survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) across 15 European countries shows that support for Ukraine is strong, but becomes more hesitant when it comes to EU membership. Many Europeans prefer the EU to expand with the UK rather than Ukraine.

A fresh survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) across 15 European countries reveals an intriguing paradox: while support for Ukraine is generally strong and many Europeans view Ukraine as an important ally or partner, this support becomes noticeably lukewarm when the discussion turns to EU membership.

UK preferred expansion partner

The survey results show that when Europeans were asked whom they would prefer to see as EU members, the UK emerged ahead of Ukraine. This is a remarkable finding, given the intense political debate over Ukraine's European integration and Kyiv's active pursuit of EU membership since the start of the full-scale war in 2022.

Support depends on how the question is framed

ECFR data suggests that supporting Ukraine in military and humanitarian terms remains widespread across most surveyed countries. However, ensuring post-war peace and the question of full membership clearly generate much greater doubt and resistance. This indicates that public opinion on Ukraine's future is more complex and multifaceted than it may initially appear.

What the survey means for Ukraine

The survey paints a picture in which Ukrainians' desire to rapidly join the European Union may clash with the preferences of ordinary citizens in many member states. Although political leaders have sent clear signals to Ukraine that the path to membership is open, the ECFR survey shows that public readiness is more restrained. Both Ukraine and EU decision-makers will need to take this gap into account.