Singaporeans' (and the World's) Response to the War in Ukraine

As the war in Ukraine nears the one-year mark, nearly two-thirds (64%) of adults across 28 countries still report closely following news about it. A new Ipsos survey finds that global public opinion about the conflict has not changed much since the weeks following the country’s invasion and that citizens of most western nations remain steadfast in their support of Ukraine.

The survey was conducted among 19,003 adults under the age of 75 between November 25 to December 9, 2022, on Ipsos’s Global Advisor online survey platform. Its findings will be presented at a conference in Washington on January 24 where they will be commented on by Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States.

Key Findings

Large majorities of citizens in every nation agree that their country must support other sovereign countries when they are attacked (70% on average globally, down 1 point on average in countries surveyed in March-April 2022), but also that it should avoid getting involved militarily in the conflict in Ukraine (71%, down 1 point).

More than half still say paying more for fuel and gas because of sanctions against Russia is worthwhile to defend another sovereign country (53%, down 2 points). Even though Ipsos research finds inflation to be the #1 worry across the world, more people think that economic sanctions on Russia are necessary to support Ukraine despite their impact on energy and food prices than feel the sanctions on Russia aren't worth the economic impact they are having in their country – by a difference of 15 percentage points on average across the 28 countries surveyed (40% vs. 25%).

However, the survey points to some risks of fatigue. At the global level, fewer now agree that their country should take in Ukrainian refugees (66%, down 7 points since March-April 2022) and that “doing nothing in Ukraine will encourage Russia to take further military action elsewhere in Europe and Asia” (63%, down 5 points). Also, slightly more now agree that “the problems of Ukraine are none of our business and we should not interfere” (42%, up 3 points).

Nevertheless, across the 13 countries surveyed that are part of the European Union and/or NATO plus Australia (i.e., “the West”), two-thirds agree that restrictions on Russian oil and gas imports are important to maintain, even if it means they must limit our heating this winter. This view is held by a majority in all 13 countries except Hungary.

Both in the U.S. and on average across the same 13 countries, 57% favor continuing to support Ukraine until all Russian forces have withdrawn from territory claimed by Ukraine. Here too, support varies greatly, ranging from 69% in Sweden to just 37% in Hungary.

Among NATO countries surveyed, full majorities in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, and Poland support their country’s providing weapons and/or air-defense systems to the Ukrainian military.

More detailed global findings here

Singapore Findings:

Singaporeans’ opinions on the war in Ukraine

• 59% of Singaporeans follow stories about the Russian invasion of Ukraine very or somewhat closely
• 78% Singaporeans say Singapore should avoid getting involved militarily in this conflict
• 73% Singaporeans say Singapore must support sovereign countries when they are attacked by other countries
• 70% Singaporeans say Russia must continue to be excluded from major international sports competitions
• 66% Singaporeans say doing nothing in Ukraine will encourage Russia to take further military action elsewhere in Europe and Asia
• 62% Singaporeans say given the current economic crisis, Singapore cannot afford to lend financial support to Ukraine
• 56% Singaporeans say paying more for fuel and gas because of sanctions against Russia is worthwhile to defend another sovereign country
• 47% Singaporeans say Singapore should take in Ukrainian refugees from the current conflict
• 44% Singaporeans say the problems of Ukraine are none of our business, and we should not interfere

Would Singaporeans support Singapore doing the following in response to the current situation in Ukraine?

• 45% Singaporeans would support Singapore applying the most stringent economic sanctions against Russia
• 42% Singaporeans would support limiting or restricting imports of oil and gas from Russia even if this leads to steep increases in energy and food prices
• 39% Singaporeans would support maintaining diplomatic ties with Russia
• 34% Singaporeans would support Singapore providing weapons and/or air-defense systems to the Ukrainian military
• 30% Singaporeans would support sending troops to NATO countries neighboring Ukraine
• 25% Singaporeans would support sending troops to Ukraine

Sanctions on Russia relative to inflation

• 41% Singaporeans say economic sanctions on Russia are necessary to support Ukraine and encourage Russia to end the war, even if it means energy and food prices will remain higher for a while
• 21% Singaporeans say the sanctions on Russia aren't worth the economic impact they are having in Singapore on energy and food prices