Number of Ukrainians Backing NATO Accession Hikes by 11% in Two Years

45 percent of Ukrainians back the idea of the country's accession to NATO, while 30 percent are against Ukraine joining the alliance, according to the poll.

KIEV (Sputnik) — A total of 45 percent of Ukrainians support the idea of the country's accession to NATO, an 11-percent increase compared to the year 2014, a poll revealed on Friday.

According to the poll by the Ukrainian sociological group Rating, 30 percent of those interviewed were against Ukraine joining the alliance.

The majority of the polled from the country's west, 67 percent, back the accession, while 12 percent are against it. In the central part of the country, 52 percent are in favor of the idea and 23 percent are against. In the country's south it is 30 percent for and 43 percent against, while 26 percent  from the east said they would vote for the accession and 44 percent said they would oppose.

The group interviewed 2,400 Ukrainian residents of over 18 years old between February 18 and March 4.

In December 2014, Ukraine cancelled the country's non-aligned status, confirming its intention to join NATO. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said a referendum on NATO membership would be held in the country within six years.

Despite Kiev's aspirations to become part of the alliance, NATO officials have repeatedly stressed that the country needs to implement a wide range of reforms before pursuing bloc membership.