Most Ukrainians support sending troops to defend Poland, the Baltic states and the Republic of Moldova in case of Russian aggression
While European chancelleries continue to intensely debate the scale of military support for Kiev and the timing of Ukraine's accession to the European Union, Ukrainian society is sending a strong signal of continental solidarity. A recent opinion poll by the Rating Group sociological laboratory shows that an overwhelming majority of Ukrainians would support sending their own troops to defend six European states in the event of an attack by the Russian Federation.
Ukrainian soldiers/PHOTO: Shutterstock
According to the data published on May 25, the willingness of Ukrainians to fight for their European allies varies between 58% and 63%, depending on the targeted country, the first on the list being the Baltic states, followed by the Republic of Moldova, Finland and Poland, euromaidanpress writes.
A perception unchanged since the beginning of the invasion
For the Ukrainian public, their military's mission has long transcended national borders. Almost three-quarters of those surveyed (73%) believe that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are currently defending the whole of Europe, not just their own country. This figure has remained remarkably stable from 2022 to the present, demonstrating a deep awareness of the geopolitical role that Kiev has assumed in the face of Kremlin expansionism.
Asked point-by-point whether they would agree with Ukrainian soldiers intervening militarily to help certain states in the event of Russian aggression, the respondents provided clear majorities for all options analyzed:
-Lithuania: 63% pro / 33% against
-Latvia: 62% pro / 33% against
-Estonia: 61% pro / 33% against
– Republic of Moldova: 60% for / 35% against
-Finland: 59% for / 33% against
-Poland: 58% for / 37% against
European identity and regional leadership ambitions
Data analysis reveals a direct correlation between citizens' Euro-Atlantic aspirations and their readiness for collective military sacrifice. Among Ukrainians who would vote to join the EU in a possible referendum, the percentage of those who see the national army as a defender of Europe rises to 84%. Conversely, among Euro-sceptics, this indicator drops to 57%.
This dynamic is also visible in the case of support for point states. For example, in the case of Estonia, 73% of supporters of European integration would approve of Ukrainian military assistance, compared to only 37% of those who oppose joining the EU bloc.
The emotional and political connection with the European Union directly dictates the degree of attachment to the security of allies on the eastern flank.
At the same time, the full-scale war caused a major mutation in the way Ukraine perceives its own status on the continent. Today, 40 percent of Ukrainians consider their country a “leader” among European states, a sharp increase from just 8 percent in January 2022, before Russian tanks crossed the border.
The survey was conducted by Rating Group between April 15-17, 2026, on a sample of 1,000 respondents over the age of 18, through telephone interviews, with a maximum margin of error of 3.1%. The figures confirm not only the resilience of a nation, but also the crystallization of a strategic vision in which Ukraine is already projecting itself as a central pillar of the European security architecture.
