Britons overwhelmingly back Ukraine joining the EU, a poll reveals tonight.
Some 54% of 2,000 voters quizzed by Opinium support Kyiv having membership of the Brussels-based bloc once the war is over, with just 12% against.
Top reasons given were to boost Ukraine’s security and defence against Russia - cited by 62% - and cutting Russian influence in Europe, cited by 49%.
The survey was carried out for the pro-EU European Movement UK.
Chief executive Anna Bird said: “Our polling uncovers how much stronger, safer and more prosperous we are when we work together across Europe, where we share common values, standards and goals - and (Vladimir) Putin’s invasion of Ukraine underscores the importance of working across Europe to bolster our security and defence.”
Ukraine MP Kira Rudik said: "The critical lesson that we have learned over the last year is the strength of unity.
“We are capable of so much more when we work and act together, which is why we see the future of Ukraine within the EU and NATO alliances.”
Lib Dem voters were most enthusiastic, with 67% in favour.
The move was backed by 55% of Conservatives, 62% of Labour voters but just 48% from the Brexit Party.
The polling comes less than seven years after the UK voted by 52% to 48% to quit the EU.
The 2016 Brexit referendum paved the way for Britain’s departure from the bloc, which it joined as the European Economic Community in 1973.
While Britain formally quit the EU in January 2020, it remained in a transition for the rest of the year.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak this week claimed victory in renegotiating the Northern Ireland Protocol, which hampered trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The controversial mechanism prevented a hard border on the 310-mile frontier between the province and the Republic - the UK’s only land boundary with the EU - but effectively drew a trade border down the Irish Sea.
The British Government struck a deal with the European Commission to allow the arrangements to be overhauled, reducing trade barriers between the British mainland and Northern Ireland.
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