Survey of public opinion on issues related to the Ukraine-Russia war in the "Visegrád Four" states (Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia) conducted June-July 2024
A survey of 2,000+ adult residents (500+ in each country) was administered over late June-early July 2024 in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Consisting of 13 questions which ranged from political views to socio-economic status (see below), the survey was administered in local languages via online media sites by the Dynata Media and Market Survey Company. Participation was voluntary and anonymous. Results are tabulated below.
Professor Robert English
(Political Science and International Relations, Director of Central European Studies, University of Southern California)
Laura Linkeschova
(Ph.D. student, Political Science and International Relations, University of Southern California)
Are you at least 18 years of age?
Ukraine's much-heralded 2023 counteroffensive failed. And now in 2024 Russia is advancing again, though at a heavy cost. Which of the following explanations is closest to your view? (check only one)
A: Ukraine could have scored a major victory if it had been given more weapons much earlier.
B: Ukraine might have gained a little more but was hampered by disputes with NATO over tactics.
C: Ukraine was never likely to win, NATO underestimated Russia’s resilience and vast reserves of soldiers and armaments.
Poland (502 total responses) A. 204 B. 119 C. 179
Czechia (515 total responses) A. 155 B. 103 C. 257
Slovakia (525 total responses) A. 139 B. 105 C. 281
Hungary (493 total responses) A. 71 B. 81 C. 341
The failure of Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive has fueled debates about why most predictions were so overoptimistic. Which of these do you agree with? (check all that apply)
A: Swept by sympathy for Ukraine and disdain for Russia, Western officials allowed emotion to dominate reason.
B: NATO experts and EU military analysts were arrogant about Western weapons technology, so they did not take Russian capabilities seriously.
C: Zelensky has been a poor military leader, wasting many lives on unrealistic objectives and dismissing experienced commanders who disagree with him.
Poland (571 total responses) A. 227 B. 243 C. 101
Czechia (616 total responses) A. 219 B. 216 C. 181
Slovakia (622 total responses) A. 248 B. 188 C. 186
Hungary (574 total responses) A. 166 B. 193 C. 215
Public support for military aid to Ukraine has been weakening in the EU. Which of these statements correctly explain why? (check all that apply)
A: People are selfish, unwilling to make the sacrifices needed for Ukraine to win.
B: People are realistic, and don’t want to waste billions more on a war that Ukraine cannot win.
C: People see massive draft evasion even as the Ukrainian army suffers an acute manpower shortage.
D: People are upset at Kyiv’s corruption, which even infects military procurement and recruiting.
E: People have lost faith in NATO experts who keep making wrong predictions.
F: People are tired of supporting Ukrainian refugees, the war must end so they can return home.
Poland (911 total responses) A. 131 B. 188 C. 195 D. 132 E. 75 F. 190
Czechia (1031 total responses) A. 108 B. 230 C. 188 D. 156 E. 102 F. 247
Slovakia (950 total responses) A. 107 B. 215 C. 141 D. 125 E. 118 F. 244
Hungary (830 total responses) A. 63 B. 242 C. 89 D. 128 E. 81 F. 227
Beyond military conflict, the Ukraine war is also a contest for global opinion fought with money and manipulation. Which statement best describes the debate in your country? (check only one)
A: Russian propaganda infiltrates our media, and many politicians are basically Kremlin puppets.
B: EU propaganda dominates our media, and many politicians get ahead by obeying Brussels.
C: The views above are too conspiratorial; our politics are diverse and contentious, but they generally reflect a frank debate about what is best for our country.
Poland (498 total responses) A. 189 B. 160 C. 149
Czechia (512 total responses) A. 144 B. 201 C. 167
Slovakia (518 total responses) A. 172 B. 173 C. 173
Hungary (498 total responses) A. 164 B. 186 C. 148
Looking to the rest of 2024, which of these positions do you agree with more? (check only one)
A. The West should increase military support to help Ukraine achieve victory and expel Russia from all occupied territories—any concessions only encourage more aggression.
B. The West should maintain or decrease military support and urge Ukraine toward a settlement that concedes some territory—Crimea and Donbas were always majority ethnic-Russian anyway.
Poland (498 total responses) A. 344 B. 169
Czechia (512 total responses) A. 230 B. 282
Slovakia ( total responses) A. 216 B. 304
Hungary (498 total responses) A. 138 B. 360
If Russia keeps advancing and once again threatens Kharkiv or even Kyiv, what should your country be prepared to do to help Ukraine? (check all that you agree with)
A. We should be ready to increase financial assistance considerably, even if it hurts our economy.
B. We should send more military aid, even if it means depleting our own arsenals.
C. We should send our troops to fight alongside Ukrainians, as French President Macron suggested.
D. We should not do any of these, let the rich countries that talk belligerently carry these burdens.
Poland (569 total responses) A. 144 B. 146 C. 46 D. 233
Czechia (572 total responses) A. 105 B. 123 C. 56 D. 288
Slovakia (609 total responses) A. 101 B. 127 C. 47 D. 314
Hungary (537 total responses) A. 68 B. 92 C. 37 D. 340
Some claim that the invasion shows why Ukraine should join NATO, because Russia is a constant threat. Others say it was the policy of pulling Ukraine closer to NATO that provoked Russia in the first place. Which of the statements below is closest to your view? (check only one)
A. NATO should approve Ukraine’s membership in the near future.
B. Ukraine might join NATO someday, but only after the war ends and there is "regime change" in both Kyiv and Moscow.
C. Ukraine should be permanently neutral, like Austria. The West can guarantee Ukraine’s security without bringing it formally into NATO, which risks drawing us into war with Russia.
Poland (501 total responses) A. 184 B. 214 C. 103
Czechia (510 total responses) A. 127 B. 158 C. 225
Slovakia (519 total responses) A. 104 B. 194 C. 221
Hungary (497 total responses) A. 70 B. 181 C. 246
Western countries pledge long-term support for Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction, whose cost is already estimated at € 1 trillion or more. Which of these do you agree with? (check all that apply)
A. Notwithstanding the cost, it is in the interests of all European countries to offer generous aid so that postwar Ukraine can swiftly rebuild and join the EU.
B. The burdens we’re bearing—economic and military aid, high energy prices and support for Ukrainian refugees—are too heavy and EU membership for Kyiv is still over a decade away.
C. The USA is an unreliable partner, and if reelected, President Donald Trump will likely cut aid for Ukraine. That would unfairly put the main burden for Ukraine’s reconstruction on the EU.
D. Corruption is a major obstacle to Ukraine’s EU bid. It has complicated their war effort and will surely hamper reconstruction projects.
Poland (646 total responses) A. 184 B. 205 C. 180 D. 139
Czechia (720 total responses) A. 128 B. 235 C. 157 D. 200
Slovakia (697 total responses) A. 144 B. 207 C. 146 D. 200
Hungary (625 total responses) A. 105 B. 199 C. 142 D. 179
Which of the following statements is closest to your political views? (check only one)
A. I am liberal-progressive and broadly admire the EU.
B. I am politically centrist and support some EU positions while disagreeing with others.
C. I am patriotic-traditional and strongly dislike some EU policies.
Poland (502 total responses) A. 140 B. 214 C. 148
Czechia (507 total responses) A. 100 B. 191 C. 216
Slovakia (522 total responses) A. 156 B. 185 C. 181
Hungary (499 total responses) A. 69 B. 212 C. 218
How old are you? (check only one)
Poland Czech Slovak Hungary
A. 18-24 68 77 92 64
B. 25-34 92 96 99 86
C. 35-44 99 96 91 90
D. 45-54 90 88 97 104
E. 55-64 80 83 86 74
F. 65+ 74 71 57 83
Which of the following statements best describes your economic status? (check only one)
A. I am doing well, with above-average income.
B. I work hard just to earn a basically average income.
C. I struggle on a below-average income or small pension.
Poland (501 total responses) A. 136 B. 269 C. 96
Czechia (510 total responses) A. 134 B. 240 C. 136
Slovakia (521 total responses) A. 106 B. 270 C. 145
Hungary (499 total responses) A. 83 B. 289 C. 127
The place where I live is: (check only one)
A. A major center of over 400,000 residents
B. A large city of between 100,000 and 400,000 residents
C. A city of between 10,000 and 100,000 residents
D. A small town of under 10,000 residents
Poland (503 total responses) A. 100 B. 128 C. 176 D. 99
Czechia (510 total responses) A. 84 B. 81 C. 184 D. 161
Slovakia (522 total responses) A. 76 B. 47 C. 203 D. 196
Hungary (498 total responses) A. 121 B. 80 C. 152 D. 145
What is the highest level of education you achieved so far? (check only one)
A. Completed primary education
B. High school or technical school education with a diploma
C. Higher, post-secondary education with a diploma
D. University diploma
Poland (502 total responses) A. 28 B. 257 C. 93 D. 125
Czechia (516 total responses) A. 33 B. 311 C. 65 D. 107
Slovakia ( total responses) A. 19 B. 251 C. 68 D. 185
Hungary (502 total responses) A. 29 B. 299 C. 87 D. 87
Copyright © 2024 Visegrád Survey Project - All Rights Reserved.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.