In This Country, 98% of Citizens Reject Putin

24/7 Wall St. Insights

• 24/7 Wall St. identified the countries with the strongest and weakest support for Ukraine using Pew Research Center polling data.
• Several of the highest-ranking countries on this list are either members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or close NATO allies.
• Also: Discover “The Next NVIDIA”

While the majority of the world supports Ukraine in the ongoing war against Russia, and views President Vladimir Putin in a negative light, some countries are even more unified in their support than others. In particular, Sweden and Poland both share a unified view of the issue, with 98% of citizens in both countries expressing “little to no confidence” in Putin to do what is right. In May 2024, Sweden donated $1.23 billion in military aid to Ukraine, including two airborne early warning and control airplanes. (Here is a look at every weapon the U.S. has sent Ukraine since Russia’s invasion.)

Using Pew Research Center polling data, 24/7 Wall St. identified the countries with the strongest – and weakest – support for Ukraine. The 24 countries included in the survey are ranked on an equally weighted index of survey responses reflecting public confidence in Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to do the right thing, as well as how favorably or unfavorably Russia is perceived as a country. All survey data was collected in the Spring of 2023. 

The three measures that contributed positively to the overall index score, indicating support for Ukraine, were: 1.) the share of respondents with little or no confidence in Russian President Vladimir Putin to do the right thing regarding world affairs, 2.) the share of respondents with either some or a lot of confidence in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to do the right thing regarding world affairs and 3.) the share of respondents with a very or somewhat unfavorable opinion of Russia as a country. 

The three measures that contributed negatively to the overall index score, indicating support for Russia, were, 1.) the share of respondents with either some or a lot of confidence in Putin to do the right thing regarding world affairs, 2.) the share of respondents with either some or a lot of confidence in Putin to do the right thing regarding world affairs, and 3.) the share of respondents with a very or somewhat favorable opinion of Russia as a country. 

It should be noted that the amount of aid countries have sent to Ukraine isn’t necessarily a reflection of the popular attitudes towards the war. While the U.S. has supplied more aid than any country to Ukraine, a survey recently published by the Pew Research Center found that 7% of Americans have at least some confidence in Russian President Vladimir Putin to do the right thing regarding world affairs. On the contrary, in Sweden, a country that has supplied $2.6 billion in aid, only 3% of the population have similarly positive opinions of Putin. 

Several of the highest-ranking countries on this list are either members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or close NATO allies. NATO was founded as a check to Soviet aggression during the Cold War, and NATO members and affiliates with the strongest grassroots support for Ukraine in the ongoing conflict include the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. (This is how NATO’s military strength compares to Russia’s.)

Why This Matters

Military leaders in America are concerned that Russia’s war against Ukraine has “destabilizing impacts on global security” that stretch “far beyond the European frontlines.” National security experts are also concerned about the possibility that a hostile nuclear power near America’s top NATO allies would be detrimental to the continued peace and economic stability in the region. All countries do not necessarily share these concerns and it is important to know what the views of the average citizens in countries worldwide are. 24/7 Wall St. aims to provide readers with more insight into the attitude of countries towards Ukraine.

See perceptions of the Ukraine War by country:

24. India

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 59% some/a lot of confidence; 30% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 50% some/a lot of confidence; 35% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 57% favorable; 31% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Flawed democracy

23. Indonesia

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 43% some/a lot of confidence; 26% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 32% some/a lot of confidence; 33% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 42% favorable; 30% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Flawed democracy

22. Kenya

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 46% some/a lot of confidence; 48% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 51% some/a lot of confidence; 41% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 40% favorable; 47% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Authoritarian-democratic hybrid

21. Nigeria

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 38% some/a lot of confidence; 51% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 38% some/a lot of confidence; 49% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 42% favorable; 46% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Authoritarian-democratic hybrid

20. Greece

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 29% some/a lot of confidence; 70% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 28% some/a lot of confidence; 71% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 32% favorable; 66% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Flawed democracy

19. Mexico

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 24% some/a lot of confidence; 69% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 25% some/a lot of confidence; 65% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 34% favorable; 54% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Authoritarian-democratic hybrid

18. South Africa

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 30% some/a lot of confidence; 50% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 32% some/a lot of confidence; 40% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 28% favorable; 57% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Flawed democracy

17. Hungary

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 19% some/a lot of confidence; 79% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 11% some/a lot of confidence; 86% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 23% favorable; 73% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Flawed democracy

16. Argentina

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 14% some/a lot of confidence; 74% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 24% some/a lot of confidence; 50% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 17% favorable; 57% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Flawed democracy

15. Brazil

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 12% some/a lot of confidence; 77% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 33% some/a lot of confidence; 52% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 18% favorable; 68% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Flawed democracy

14. Italy

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 14% some/a lot of confidence; 86% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 38% some/a lot of confidence; 61% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 18% favorable; 79% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Flawed democracy

13. Israel

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 10% some/a lot of confidence; 88% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 34% some/a lot of confidence; 59% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 13% favorable; 83% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Flawed democracy

12. France

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 8% some/a lot of confidence; 91% little to no confidence
• CConfidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 50% some/a lot of confidence; 47% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 15% favorable; 82% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Full democracy

11. Canada

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 12% some/a lot of confidence; 85% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 65% some/a lot of confidence; 32% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 12% favorable; 81% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Full democracy

10. Germany

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 8% some/a lot of confidence; 92% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 62% some/a lot of confidence; 38% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 10% favorable; 86% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Full democracy

9. United States

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 7% some/a lot of confidence; 90% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 56% some/a lot of confidence; 33% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 7% favorable; 91% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Flawed democracy

8. Spain

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 5% some/a lot of confidence; 95% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 55% some/a lot of confidence; 43% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 5% favorable; 92% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Full democracy

7. South Korea

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 6% some/a lot of confidence; 94% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 66% some/a lot of confidence; 31% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 14% favorable; 85% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Full democracy

6. United Kingdom

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 9% some/a lot of confidence; 90% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 77% some/a lot of confidence; 22% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 10% favorable; 90% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Full democracy

5. Netherlands

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 7% some/a lot of confidence; 93% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 73% some/a lot of confidence; 26% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 7% favorable; 91% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Full democracy

4. Australia

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 5% some/a lot of confidence; 93% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 70% some/a lot of confidence; 26% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 8% favorable; 92% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Full democracy

3. Japan

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 4% some/a lot of confidence; 94% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 68% some/a lot of confidence; 28% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 5% favorable; 93% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Full democracy

2. Poland

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 1% some/a lot of confidence; 98% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 70% some/a lot of confidence; 21% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 1% favorable; 98% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Flawed democracy

1. Sweden

• Confidence in Putin to do what’s right (% of pop.): 3% some/a lot of confidence; 98% little to no confidence
• Confidence in Zelenskyy to do what’s right (% of pop.): 86% some/a lot of confidence; 12% little to no confidence
• Views on Russia (% of pop.): 3% favorable; 96% unfavorable
• Regime classification: Full democracy

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