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Center and the Razumkov Center. Some 57.7% of those polled would vote for accession to the European Union, while 26.9% would vote against. Another 5.8% said that they would not take part in the referendum. Kyiv has adopted the long-term goal of joining the EU, however, membership has never been offered and is unlikely to be offered any time in the foreseeable future. On the one hand Russia is deeply opposed to Ukrainian membership of the trading club which it sees as a Trojan horse to eventual Nato members – a red line for the Kremlin. On the other hand the EU is suffering from “expansion fatigue” as new transition country members require heavy investment to bring their institutions and infrastructure up to EU levels. Ukraine is particularly problematic as it has such a large population that would flood labour markets across the Continent and is a huge agricultural producer that would upset the Common Agricultural Policy and threaten the members of Europe’s powerful agro-lobby. While Russia has said in theory it would not object to Ukraine increasing its trade ties with the rest of Europe, allowing Ukraine to join Nato remains a ​bête noire for Moscow. Again, Nato has not offered Ukraine membership of the military alliance nor is it likely, although Ukraine’s military has built up a close relationship with Nato and the countries have organised joint exercises in a show of mutual support. ​Some 47.7% of respondents are ready to support Ukraine's accession to NATO at the referendum if it became possible, while 32.8% would vote against. Some 6.5% of the respondents would not take part in the referendum. A total of 4,000 respondents over the age of 18 were interviewed for the survey.
A poll conducted on the eve of Ukraine’s independence day on August 24 found that feelings towards the country’s identity remains divided along regional lines. ​The poll by the Razumkov Centre found that the absolute majority of Ukrainians approve of independence across the whole country but that national pride is stronger in the western parts of the country than in the more pro-Russian eastern parts of the country. According to the poll, if the independence referendum would be held now, this would be voting in its favour: West - 92.5%; Centre - 71.6%; South - 56.0%; and East - 45.0%.
16​ UKRAINE Country Report​ September 2020 ​ ​www.intellinews.com