A majority of Ukrainians and Russians want both states to remain independent but friendly, with open borders and visa-free and customs-free travel
A majority of Ukrainians and Russians want both states to remain independent but friendly, with open borders and visa-free and customs-free travel (Ukraine – 68%, Russia – 59%). This according to a poll conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation and Kyiv International Institute of Sociology with support from the International Renaissance Foundation, European Union, Matra Program of the Netherlands Embassy in Ukraine, and the National Endowment for Democracy. The poll data are compared with the data of Russian Levada Center.
12% of those surveyed in Ukraine want to join Russia. In recent years this figure dropped from 20% to 9%, and grew by 3% after the Maidan. The largest number of supporters for joining Russia can be found in the East (26%) and South (19%), with the fewest in the Center (5%) and West (1%).
The largest percentage of supporters of Ukraine joining Russia can be found among communist party voters (35.5%), but even then a majority wants Ukraine and Russia to remain friendly independent states (63%). Among Party of Regions voters, 28% want to join Russia. In Russia, 16% want Ukraine to become part of Russia.
As before, the attitude of Ukrainians towards Russia is better than the attitude of Russians towards Ukraine. Compared with a poll held in May 2013, the number of Ukrainians with a positive attitude toward Russia has dropped slightly (from 82% in November 2013 to 78% in February 2014), while the percentage of Ukrainians with a negative attitude towards Russia has increased slightly (10% in November to 13% in February).
In Russia, the percentage of the population with a positive attitude of Ukraine dropped compared with November from 69% to 66%. The percentage of those with a negative attitude increase over this same period from 22% to 26%.
The nationwide opinion poll was conducted in Ukraine between February 8-18, 2014. A total of 2032 respondents were surveyed in all oblasts (including Kyiv) and Crimea, with a random sample representative of the population of Ukraine aged 18+ years. The margin of error is +/- 2.2% (excluding design effect).
Levada Center conducted the corresponding survey in Russia on February 21-25, 2014. The sample included 1603 respondents aged 18+ in 130 settlements in 45 regions of the country. The margin of error is +/- 3.4%.
Contacts:
Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation
(+380 44) 581 33 17
dif@dif.org.ua
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Main objective of the International Renaissance Foundation is to provide financial and operational assistance to the development of an open and democratic society in Ukraine by supporting key civic initiatives in this area.
