Attitudes Toward the Response of the EU to the Russian Invasion of Ukraine: The Role of Empathic Concern, Identification With the EU, and the View That Ukraine Is Part of the European Community

The response of the European Union (EU) to the Russian invasion of Ukraine included sanction packages, military support to the Ukrainian military, and humanitarian help and protection for the Ukrainian refugees. The present study aimed to investigate whether identification with the EU, feelings of sympathy toward Ukrainian people, and the view that Ukraine is part of the European community are associated with attitudes toward the EU's measures to respond to the war in Ukraine. Data from the Flash Eurobarometer 506 were used. Exploratory factor analysis revealed three homogeneous dimensions of attitudes toward the EU measures: Sanctions against Russia, Support for Ukrainians, and External support in armed conflict. Regression analyses showed that Sanctions against Russia and External support in armed conflict were best predicted by the view that Ukraine is part of the European community, while (humanitarian) Support for Ukrainians was best predicted by feelings of sympathy toward Ukrainian people.