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The vote by ten countries, including the United Kingdom, through the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) warned of a “widening gap” between the foreign policy of European countries and the mood of their citizens. The poll found that while Europeans are in solidarity with Ukraine, only in Poland is the highest popular opinion that punishing Russia for its aggression should be an immediate priority.
The effects come as world leaders prepare for the G7 summit in Germany starting tomorrow, when the clash in Ukraine is probably the most sensible item on the agenda.
In the report “Peace instead of justice: the next European division over the war in Ukraine”, ECFR knows 3 different “camps” of European citizens in relation to the confrontation: those who need “peace”, those who need “justice”. and those who are undecided voters, somewhere in between.
Countries studied included Poland and Romania, which border Ukraine and are skeptical of Russia, as well as France, Germany and Italy, which have already earned the reputation of Russlandverstehers (“the understanding of Russia”).
He also interviewed people in Portugal and Spain, southern European states that in the afterlife have cared less about Russian politics; Finland and Sweden, northern European states that implemented the NATO club after the invasion, and Britain.
The report states: “The electoral effects suggest that European public opinion is turning and that perhaps the most difficult days are yet to come. The resilience of European democracies will basically depend on the ability of governments to make public policies that will eventually harm other social groups. This will force governments to strike a balance between the pursuit of European unity and pressure on Moscow, with divergent perspectives within and between Member States.
“The survey shows a developing gap between the stated positions of many European governments and the mood of the public in their countries. The big gap that lies ahead is between those who need to end the war as soon as possible and those who need to keep fighting until they reach Russia. He was defeated.
The report says European citizens are concerned about the burden of economic sanctions and the risk of a nuclear escalation, with the UK, Poland, Sweden and Romania being the most implicated by the risk of nuclear war. Unless something changes drastically, the effects imply that you will oppose a long and protracted war. Only in Poland, Germany, Sweden and Finland is there a really wide audience for more military spending.
Russia is universally accused of initiating confrontation and is also seen as the biggest impediment to peace. More than 80% of respondents in Poland, Sweden, Finland and Britain see Russia as to blame for the war, a view shared by large majorities in Italy. , France and Germany.
A comparable picture also jumps out when asked about the major impasse for a possible peace deal, with a majority in the country citing Russia as the main obstacle.
Europeans also that national governments deserve to break their economic and cultural relations with Moscow and the prevailing view is also that their country deserves to break diplomatic relations with Russia. Severe sanctions have already been implemented against Russia and its best friend Belarus through the top Western countries. .
The G7 summit in Schloss Elmau, Bavaria, will deal with the control of the war in Ukraine – and the upcoming reconstruction of the country – as well as the pandemic and environmental issues.
Germany assumed the presidency on January 1, with the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan, Canada and the United States as members.
The G7 website states that the goals of the summit are to “move towards a just world. “He said the seven ongoing sessions of the summit will address topics: global economy, partnerships for the next countries, foreign and security policy, sustainability, food security, multilateralism and virtual transformation.
Earlier this week, former U. N. Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon warned G7 leaders that they “have no pressing responsibilities” and suggested they not risk climate change.
He said: “Addressing these demanding situations requires fulfilling the promises of peace, public adequacy and poverty reduction. But it also means addressing a risk that overshadows and affects everyone else: climate change. “
Last year, at the G7 convention in the UK, leaders agreed to devote $100 billion [£81 billion] a year to help low-income countries reduce their emissions. They also pledged to help countries move away from coal-fired power, through strategies that come with a plan to phase out coal combustion, unless it comes with carbon capture technology.
The German Presidency also invited the leaders of Argentina, India, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa to participate in several summit sessions, at the end of which members are expected to adopt a “leaders’ communiqué”, setting out the conclusions of the summit. The European Union will also be represented through the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
Starting in 1997, Russia became a member of an expanded organization called the G8, but suspended in 2014, following its resolution to annex Crimea and invade ukraine’s Donbass region.