A sociological survey conducted in March 2026 by the research firm Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center shows an overall positive trend in Ukrainians’ attitudes toward Austria. The share of positive assessments rose to 55.9% compared to 48.7% in August 2025. At the same time, the level of negative perception nearly halved—from 4.7% to 2.6%.
Despite this, a significant portion of respondents—40.3%—adopt a neutral stance. This distribution of responses indicates that for many Ukrainians, Austria remains a country without a clearly defined emotional image. At the same time, the positive segment is quite stable: 17.5% of respondents expressed a completely positive attitude, and another 38.5%—a mostly positive one.
Negative assessments remain minimal. The share of those who view Austria mostly negatively is 2.3%, and those who view it entirely negatively is only 0.2%. Another 1.2% of respondents were unable to decide on their position. This configuration of indicators suggests the absence of systematic negativity and, at the same time, a limited depth of positive perception.
The key factor in the dynamics of change is precisely the increase in positive sentiment. This may indicate a gradual strengthening of Austria’s presence in the Ukrainian information space or a clearer understanding of its role in the European context. At the same time, the persistence of a large share of neutral responses suggests that this process is not yet complete.
“The results regarding Austria clearly demonstrate how attitudes toward countries that are not at the center of Ukrainians’ daily attention are formed. We see a rise in positive sentiment, but at the same time, a significant proportion of neutral assessments remains, which indicates a lack of knowledge or experience in interaction. In such cases, the key factor becomes the country’s informational presence and clear signals regarding its role for Ukraine,” noted Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research company Active Group.
Thus, Austria is currently perceived by Ukrainians more positively than negatively, though this perception has not yet taken on a clearly defined character. Further growth in positive assessments will largely depend on the extent to which the country is present in the Ukrainian public sphere and how clearly its role in the broader European context becomes understood.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, Austria ranks 20th in total trade volume with Ukraine, which amounts to $1.33 billion. At the same time, imports from Austria exceed Ukrainian exports, resulting in a moderate trade deficit of over $200 million.
The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found at this link on the Experts Club analytical center’s website.
ACTIVE GROUP, AUSTRIA, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEY, UKRAINE, URAKIN
