You're reading: Poll: Ukrainians prefer joining European Union rather than Customs Union

More people in Ukraine support their country's integration into the European Union than joining the Customs Union with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, according to a study conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation and the sociological service of the Razumkov Center from May 17 to May 22, 2013.

According to the survey, 42 percent of respondents chose Ukraine’s accession to the EU, when asked which direction Ukraine should move, and 31 percent of respondents chose the Customs Union with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Some 13 percent said that Ukraine should not join either the EU or the Customs Union, and 13.7 percent were undecided.

A third of respondents also said that they consider themselves to be Europeans. In particular, when asked whether Ukrainians feel Europeans, 10 percent answered “definitely yes,” 24.3 percent – “most likely yes,” 29.1 percent – “most likely not,” and 25.9 percent – “definitely not.” Some 10.7 percent failed to answer.

In addition, 40.5 percent of respondents said that it would be better if everything remained in Ukraine as it had been in the Soviet Union until 1985.

At the same time, 39.3 percent did not agree with that, and 20.2 percent were undecided.

A total of 2,010 respondents aged over 18 from all regions in Ukraine were interviewed. The poll’s margin of error is 2.3 percent.