KYIV. May 16 (Interfax) - As many as 48.9% of Ukrainians would vote for entering NATO, and 57% for joining the European Union at a hypothetical referendum, the Social Monitoring Center, the Yaremenko Institute for Social Research, and the sociological group Rating said in a joint statement released at Interfax's press center on Thursday.
According to the statement, 57% would vote for entering the European Union at a referendum on choosing between the EU and the resumption of pragmatic relations with Russia and other CIS countries.
Some 19.3% would vote for reinstating relations with Russia and other CIS countries, 13.6% would take no part in the referendum, and 10.1% are undecided, the statement said.
At the same time, 48.9% would chose accession to the alliance at a hypothetical referendum offering a choice between NATO and neutral status; 23.2% would vote to be neutral, 16% would take no part in the referendum, and 11.8% are undecided.
In the opinion of 43.1% of respondents, Ukraine should continue European integration and comprehensive rapprochement with the EU, 12.3% favor resumption and broadening of economic and cultural relations with Russia, 37.8% want economic and cultural development programs relying on domestic potential and resources, and 6.8% are undecided.
The sociologists polled 3,000 respondents in 24 Ukrainian regions and Kyiv between April 30 and May 10. The error margin is under 1.83%.