Europeans Reject Following Trump if He Urges Ukraine to Cede Territory or Lift Sanctions

Europeans are increasingly signaling that they will not follow U.S. President Donald Trump if he advocates requiring Ukraine to give up territory or easing sanctions on Russia, according to a major poll by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).

The survey, spanning twelve EU countries, reveals a striking consensus: large majorities or strong pluralities in eleven of the twelve oppose any Western pressure for Ukraine to halt military operations or for Europe to pivot away from its Russia sanctions. Even in countries where sentiment is more divided—such as Hungary, where 40 percent oppose emulating U.S. policy shifts and 38 percent support following suit—the broader European trend remains firmly pro-Ukraine.

The findings coincide with rising fears in Europe about a potential resurgence of Trump and his unpredictable foreign policy. In Germany and the U.K., 74 percent and 67 percent respectively describe the U.S. political system under Trump as “broken,” while support for increased defense investment is climbing as public anxiety over Russian aggression grows.

The ECFR report underscores that Europeans largely reject a transactional U.S.-led approach to the war in Ukraine—namely, one that holds Ukrainian territorial concessions and sanctions relief as bargaining chips. One ECFR summary notes:

“Majorities or pluralities in 11 of the 12 countries polled are against the idea of Europe withdrawing its military support for Ukraine, pushing Ukraine to give up on territory occupied by Russia, or lifting economic sanctions on Russia even if the U.S. shifts its policy”.

This sentiment stretches across political divides. While far-right parties in Europe have increasingly looked to Trump as a model, their electorates do not necessarily support his more lenient stance toward Moscow. Public skepticism towards Trump notwithstanding, approximately 60–70 percent across nations like Poland, Portugal, and the UK firmly back NATO and EU sanctions on Russia.

The poll also reflects Europeans’ growing appetite for national defense readiness. Many support increasing military spending and reintroducing mandatory service—particularly in Poland, Denmark, Germany, and France—as a hedge against both Russian aggression and an uncertain American alliance. Still, the debate over conscription is generational, with young voters notably resistant.

Analysts suggest the poll underscores a key shift: Europeans are seeking strategic autonomy, unwilling to cede Ukraine’s future or Europe’s security to the whims of a changing White House. Belarusian-born pollster Ivan Krastev, collaborating with ECFR, described the sentiment this way: even as right-wing parties may admire Trump, mainstream voters demand consistent backing for Ukraine, independent of U.S. politics.

French President Emmanuel Macron echoed that rationale at the recent G7 summit, calling for tougher sanctions on Russia and reaffirming Europe’s solidarity with Ukraine in defense of democratic values.