What is Romania’s silence costing it in Ukraine’s opinion polls? Lessons from a weak diplomacy

Romania and Poland have played important logistical roles in supporting Ukraine, yet Ukrainians rate them less favorably than several Western European countries, according to recent polling discussed by Romanian political scientist Radu Albu Comănescu.

Support for France, Britain and Germany reportedly ranges from above 60% to 80%, while France reaches 81%, Britain 80%, Germany 77% and Lithuania 77%. Romania stands at 56% and Poland at 50%. Moldova, despite having had less capacity to assist Ukraine, receives a 68% favorable rating.

Comănescu says the results may look like ingratitude and could provide arguments for anti-Ukrainian and pro-Russian voices in Romania and Poland. But he rejects the idea that Ukrainians are hostile to either country. In his view, both remain friendly in the eyes of most Ukrainians, even if their ratings are noticeably lower than those of France, Britain, Germany and Lithuania.

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On the whole, this Ukrainian attitude seems like immense ingratitude and will serve as an argument for anti-Ukrainian and pro-Russian voices in these two countries.

The political scientist draws a distinction between a country’s actual contribution and its perceived attitude. “The first point is that the poll measures perceived political attitude, not the country’s contribution to Ukraine’s security,” he said. “A Ukrainian respondent is not asked, ‘Which country has done the most for us?’ but ‘Which country seems friendly toward Ukraine?’ Two different questions.”

He argues that Romania’s assistance has been vital to Kyiv but often kept out of public view. By withholding information about its support, Bucharest not only gave anti-Ukrainian voices domestic ammunition, he says, but also made Ukrainians less aware of the help they were receiving. The polling therefore exposes a gap between material contribution, geopolitical proximity and perceived friendship.

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The first point is that the poll measures perceived political attitude, not the country’s contribution to Ukraine’s security. A Ukrainian respondent is not asked, ‘Which country has done the most for us?’ but ‘Which country seems friendly toward Ukraine?’ Two different questions.