RTL/ntv trend barometer: Large majority wants sanctions against Schröder

Most Germans would support Ukraine joining the EU, but there is no majority for joining NATO. Almost two-thirds of respondents want sanctions against Putin friend Gerhard Schröder.

According to the current RTL/ntv trend barometer, 54 percent of Germans think it would be right for Ukraine to be admitted to the European Union. 39 percent don’t think that’s right. A narrow majority of East Germans (51 percent) and a large majority of AfD supporters (70 percent) are opposed to Ukraine joining the EU.

Opinions are more skeptical about Ukraine’s possible NATO membership. 45 percent of Germans think it is right for Ukraine to join NATO, while 47 percent think it is wrong. A majority for Ukraine’s NATO membership is found exclusively among supporters of the Greens (59 percent).

The European Parliament has voted in favor of extending EU sanctions imposed on Russia to include former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and other former heads of government who now work for Russian state-owned companies. 63 percent of Germans think it would be right if the EU were to impose sanctions on Schröder and other former heads of government. 30 percent don’t think that’s right.

Large majorities of the supporters of the SPD (71 percent), the Greens (78 percent) and the Union parties (74 percent) support possible EU sanctions against Schröder and other former heads of government. FDP supporters are much more skeptical (41 percent against sanctions), while a majority of AfD supporters (76 percent) reject such EU sanctions.

Demands are coming from politics and science that Germany and the European Union should stop all gas deliveries from Russia in order not to allow Russia to continue earning billions. On the other hand, there are fears that such a stop in Germany would result in bottlenecks in the supply of gas and difficulties for the economy.

44 percent of Germans are in favor of stopping all gas deliveries from Russia to Germany. 50 percent reject such an import ban. Only the supporters of the Greens (62 percent) are in favor of stopping Russian gas supplies.

After the 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 surface-to-air missiles delivered so far, the federal government has announced that it will also deliver heavy weapons, including self-propelled howitzers and anti-aircraft tanks, to Ukraine. 54 percent of Germans – as many as in the previous week – think that’s right. 40 percent don’t think that’s right. Supporters of the Greens (75 percent) and those of the Union parties (62 percent) have the greatest approval of the planned arms deliveries. A majority of East Germans (67 percent) and AfD supporters (81 percent) reject the planned arms deliveries.

The data was collected by the market and opinion research institute Forsa on behalf of RTL Germany from May 20 to 23, 2022. Database: 1009 respondents. Statistical error tolerance: /- 3 percentage points.