You're reading: Poll: 44% Ukrainians see benefits of EU membership

Forty-four percent of Ukrainians consider a free trade zone with the European Union economically beneficial for Ukraine, according to the findings of a nationwide sociological survey conducted for Ukrainian Forum by Rating+.

At the same time, 37% of the respondents favor a rapprochement with the Customs Union, the pollster said in a press release. Fifteen percent believe Ukraine should stay out of any economic-integration organizations. Yet another 5% could not answer.

More than half of the Ukrainians who are certain about the usefulness of European association are not prepared to stick to their choice should it lead to negative socio-economic consequences for them personally: a rise in utility rates, higher prices, hryvnia devaluation, the bankruptcy of small businesses and so on, the poll said.

The survey was conducted by representative sampling (2,600 respondents) on January 17 – 30, 2014.