The attitudinal survey “The Washington Post” conducted last December covered 900 respondents in Eastern and Southern regions of Ukraine outside of the militants-controlled areas. The survey facilitated by the Fell Fund of the University of Oxford resulted in figures that leave no doubt that Ukrainians favor unity of their country over separatism.
The questions of the survey included:
1. What would you say is the ideal government arrangement for Ukraine?
The majority of respondents (over 30%) favored maintaining the unitary system.
2. What should be the status of Donetsk and Luhansk (regions)?
The large majority of respondents (over 50%) were in favor of retaining the status of both regions within Ukraine. As few as 6% and 4% of respondents believed that the militants-controlled territories ought to be granted independence or join the Russian Federation.
3. What should the Ukrainian government do in response to the moves by the Donetsk and Luhansk towards independence?
Most respondents preferred the options of using greater military force (over 15%) or conceding more power to the occupied areas (over 35%) in preference to the two occupied territories splitting from Ukraine.
“The Washington Post” says the results are replicated in those parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions that are currently not controlled by the militants and are the target of fighting. In both regions, respondents were more likely to choose greater autonomy over separation, and this preference was particularly strong in Luhansk region.
Tags: world about ukraine
