Ukrainians view EU countries and the UK most positively, China and Hungary negatively – study by Active Group and Experts Club

Ukrainians view Germany, the UK, Norway and France most positively, while Hungary, China, Iraq and Serbia are on the list of countries with the worst ratings. This is shown by the results of a study by the company Active Group and the analytical center Experts Club, conducted in late August.

“We conducted a representative survey of 800 respondents in late August, taking into account gender, age and region of residence. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%. This is not the first study of this kind, but this time we selected 50 countries specifically on an economic criterion: we ask about those with whom Ukraine trades the most,” said sociologist and founder of the company Active Group Andrii Yeremenko at a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Tuesday.

According to him, the study showed that public opinion is clearly divided between the countries of the West and states outside it.

“Ukrainians most strongly associate the achievement of peace with the European Union – 42% of respondents think so. The United States is supported by almost 26% of those surveyed, the UK by 13%. Other large countries, such as China, India or Brazil, are effectively not seen as contributing to a peaceful settlement in Ukraine,” Yeremenko stressed.

The director of the research company Active Group, Oleksandr Pozniy, added that in economic terms Ukraine's key partners are China, Poland, Germany, Turkey and the US.

“At the same time, attitudes toward them vary greatly. For example, more than 76% of Ukrainians view Germany positively, whereas only 12% view China positively, and 40% negatively. The case of Hungary is even more critical, where the positive share is 16% and the negative 55%,” he said.

The founder of Experts Club and deputy director general of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, Maksym Urakin, drew attention to economic imbalances in Ukraine's trade with its leading partners.

“In the first half of 2025, Ukraine's negative foreign trade balance amounted to $18.5 billion, whereas in 2024 it was $12.4 billion. So we have a substantial deterioration. In particular, in trade with China alone the negative balance exceeded $7 billion, with Germany $2 billion, with Poland more than $1 billion, and with the US about $2 billion,” the expert stressed.

He clarified that Ukraine remains a powerful exporter of agricultural products – grain, oilseeds, metals – while imports from the EU and China consist mainly of machinery, equipment, transport, electronics and chemicals.

“This once again confirms the need for deep structural changes in the economy and diversification of foreign economic ties. We cannot go on depending on a narrow circle of suppliers,” Urakin noted.

At the same time, according to the expert, the sociological data demonstrate a certain paradox.

“The most advantageous partners for us from an economic point of view are Egypt, Spain, Moldova, Algeria, Lebanon and Iraq. However, the attitude of Ukrainians toward most of these countries is neutral or even negative. This shows that society forms its assessments not on the basis of economic benefit, but mainly on the basis of political statements or events,” he added.

Urakin concluded that such a mismatch between the economy and public opinion may have long-term consequences for Ukraine's foreign policy.

“The missions of foreign states that are Ukraine's trading partners should pay more attention to working with Ukrainian society, hold cultural events, support humanitarian projects and build a positive image. Otherwise we will continue to have a situation where a country is an important trading partner but is at the same time perceived negatively by the majority of citizens,” stressed the founder of Experts Club.

To learn more about the study