My Take | More Europeans want peace than justice
- Those who are feigning moral outrage about the war in Ukraine but are sitting on the sidelines should consider a new survey on the state of public opinion in 10 European countries
In the initial phase of the war in Ukraine, outrage helped unify European public opinion and solidify a cohesive Western response. Now, as the suffering worsens and the war drags on with no end in sight, that unity is fraying. A new survey commissioned by the European Council on Foreign Relations offers a revealing picture of the state of public opinion in 10 European countries.
More Europeans want the war to end as soon as possible than those who want to punish Russia. That includes Ukrainian concessions such as land for peace. Across all 10 countries surveyed, 35 per cent are in the “peace” camp while 22 per cent are in the “justice” camp. Twenty per cent are undecided.
Italians are most supportive of the peace camp, with 52 per cent in its favour. In contrast, Poles lead in supporting the justice camp, with 41 per cent demanding punishment for Russia and restoring Ukraine’s full territorial integrity.
A majority of Europeans (55 per cent) think the European Union will come off worse from the conflict, while few think the United States and China will have much to lose from it.
Those from Finland, Sweden, Poland, Romania and Sweden – countries closest to Russia - fret most about the threat of nuclear escalation and/or widening the war. People from countries further away from the conflict - Portugal, Spain, Italy and France – are more concerned about the drastically rising cost of living as a result of the economic fallout.
