As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine entered its three-year mark this week, Europeans are expressing mixed views about the EU’s continued support for Ukraine and US President Donald Trump’s moves to end the conflict, our correspondents report.
Three years after the start of the war in Ukraine, 66% of French people believe that the EU should continue supporting Ukraine financially and militarily, even without US backing, according to an IPSOS poll.
However, 78% of French people said they do not want the French troops to be sent to the battlefield, unless it’s a question of enforcing a possible peace treaty, in which case 55% are in favour of peacekeeping troops in Ukraine, according to an Odoxa survey, Euronews correspondent Sophia Khatsenkova reports from Paris.
In Germany, Ukraine’s third biggest financial supporter, nearly half of Germans now want to stop both financial and military support to Ukraine, according to a recent survey.
A kind of Trump-era anti-Americanism is spreading among Germans. 71% of respondents expect a deterioration in German-American relations, Euronews correspondent Liv Stroud reports from Berlin.
However, the polls in Spain reflect a positive trend. Spanish people want to stand by Ukraine. A striking 68% of citizens support aid to Kyiv, according to the Social Studies Gabinet. Meanwhile, around 94% believe a unified European defence policy is essential amid the war.
Citizens not necessarily in tune with the stance of their governments
Spain’s ties with the United States have long been solid, with several military bases dotted around the country, and the Spanish government wants to strengthen ties with Washington even more, says correspondent Roberto Macedonio.
In Romania, a new survey says that more than 70% of Romanians support the country’s both NATO and EU memberships. 63% of them see the Trump-Putin negotiations positively, and over 60% oppose a possible US military withdrawal from Romania, Arina Delcea reports from Bucharest.
In Budapest, the Hungarian government’s loud anti-Ukrainian policy is also having an impact on public opinion.
While Hungary has the lowest level of support for Ukraine in Europe, a large part of the people still show solidarity with the country invaded by Russia in 2022.
As regards relations with the United States, the Viktor Orban government has been committed to the new Trump government from the start, but the population of Hungary remains much more divided, according to our correspondent Rita Konya.
Opinion polls in Greece show that the percentage of those who positively support the EU’s support for Ukraine is gradually decreasing.
However, the poll presented on Tuesday by the Greek private TV station SKAI showed that after the turmoil caused by Donald Trump’s initiatives, 61% of Greeks want more and better Europe.
As for Trump’s presidency, the same survey showed that 31% of Greeks express concern, 18% pessimism, and only 9% satisfaction, Euronews Athens correspondent Akis Tatis reports.
Last week, the Trump administration held talks with Russia without Ukrainian or other European allies represented.
Earlier this week, the US, in a shocking move, refused to sign on to resolutions at the United Nations blaming Russia for the war, which began three years ago when Moscow invaded.
ADVERTISEMENTTrump’s drifting view of the war and friendly approach towards Moscow has caused concern for key allies in Europe and led to a potentially tectonic shift in transatlantic relations.
On the third anniversary of the Russian invasion, the EU has reaffirmed its unwavering support for Kyiv until it achieves a just and lasting peace while also committing to aiding its progress towards EU membership.
Video editor • Jerry Fisayo-Bambi
