May 11, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The majority of people in Ukraine are against their country joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), according to a poll by FOM-Ukraine. 54.9 per cent of respondents believe the country should not enter the alliance.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The majority of people in Ukraine are against their country joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), according to a poll by FOM-Ukraine. 54.9 per cent of respondents believe the country should not enter the alliance.

NATO was originally formed in 1949 as an agreement of collaboration designed to prevent a possible attack from the Soviet Union on North America or Western Europe during the Cold War. In March 2004, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia officially joined NATO.

A series of public demonstrations took place in Kiev after the November 2004 presidential run-off. The Ukrainian Supreme Court eventually invalidated the results of the second round, and ordered a special re-vote. Opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko—whose supporters wore orange-coloured clothing at events and rallies—received 51.99 per cent of all cast ballots, defeating Viktor Yanukovych. Yushchenko and current Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko have advocated for closer ties with NATO.

On Apr. 1, U.S. president George W. Bush endorsed Ukraine’s NATO bid, saying, "Ukraine is the only non-NATO nation supporting every NATO mission. In Afghanistan and Iraq, Ukrainian troops are helping to support young democracies. In Kosovo, Ukrainians (...) help keep the peace. Ukraine now seeks to deepen its cooperation with the NATO alliance through a Membership Action Plan. Your nation has made a bold decision, and the United States strongly supports your request."

On Apr. 15, Ukrainian foreign minister Volodymyr Ohryzko said his country would join NATO, adding, "Ukraine has made its choice. This choice is well thought-out. This is not only the political will of our leadership, but it is also Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic future, which is set out in its legislation. NATO is our choice of how we safeguard our security."

On May 5, NATO announced that 26 of its ambassadors will travel to Ukraine in June in order to raise the alliance’s profile in the country and show support for Ukraine’s bid.

Polling Data

Do you support or oppose Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)?

Support	22.3%
Oppose	54.9%
Not sure	22.8%

Source: FOM-Ukraine
Methodology: Interviews with 2,000 Ukrainian adults, conducted from Apr. 16 to Apr. 25, 2008. Margin of error is 2.2 per cent.