Kathmandu: Europeans remain largely supportive of Ukraine's struggle against Russian forces and favor increasing arms shipments to Kyiv. However, they are divided on how to end the war, according to a poll published Wednesday by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).

Despite recent Russian gains in Ukraine, European support for arming Ukraine remains strong. The ECFR's survey, which included nearly 20,000 respondents across 15 European countries, highlighted that most Europeans favor increasing the supply of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. This support persists despite Moscow's regular claims of capturing more eastern villages and months of delays in new US funding for Ukraine due to protests by right-wing members of the US Congress. "Ukraine's determination to fight and European support for arming Ukraine have not been affected by Russian advances on the battlefield," the ECFR report stated.

The study reveals a significant divide in opinions on how the war should end. While Ukrainians seek weapons to achieve victory and reclaim all territory seized by Russia, Europeans generally hope that arms supplies will lead to an acceptable settlement. The vast majority of Ukrainians oppose ceding territories to Russia in exchange for NATO membership, while most Europeans believe the conflict will conclude with a compromise settlement, except for those in Estonia.

The survey shows regional differences in the level of support for Ukraine. Estonia, Poland, and Sweden show the highest levels of support for helping Ukraine regain its occupied territories. In contrast, countries like Bulgaria, Greece, and Italy are more skeptical about Ukraine's chances of prevailing on the battlefield, even with increased arms supplies. Countries such as the Czech Republic, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland are still struggling to consolidate a national consensus on the war and the EU's role in it