Beyond Geopolitics: Unraveling Public Support for Economic Sanctions in the B9 States at the Beginning of the Ukrainian War (2022)

Abstract

This study analyzes the factors influencing public support for economic sanctions in the Bucharest Nine (B9) states in the context of the war in Ukraine (2022) and the measures taken by the European Union (EU) against Russia. Operating data from the Flash Eurobarometer 506 (2022) survey, this work assesses the influence of public awareness, trust in the sender alliance, emotional resonance, solidarity with the aggressed state, and targeted sanctions on public opinion across these nine EU member states. Multiple regression analyses demonstrate that a multifaceted approach, incorporating various dimensions, yields a more comprehensive understanding of public support for economic sanctions. The findings of this study emphasize that the most significant factors driving public support include sanctions imposed on Russian oligarchs, closer military cooperation within the EU, and military equipment provided to Ukraine. It can be concluded that the findings of this study reveal that the citizens of B9 countries have a pragmatic rather than an emotional approach when referring to both the conflict in Ukraine and the imposition of sanctions against Russia.