A recent poll reveals widespread concern among German citizens regarding the potential for the conflict in Ukraine to escalate into a broader confrontation between Russia and NATO. The survey, conducted by Forsa for RTL and ntv, indicates that 61% of respondents harbor this fear.
The apprehension regarding potential escalation is consistent across both eastern and western Germany, transcending political affiliations. Within the electorate, concerns remain high: 63% of CDU/CSU supporters, 66% of SPD voters, 60% of Green party voters, 61% of Left party supporters and 61% of AfD voters expressed similar anxieties.
The poll also explored perceptions of Europe’s military capacity independent of US support. Only 41% of Germans believe European NATO members would be capable of defending against a potential Russian attack on a NATO member without US assistance. A majority, 52%, expressed doubts about this capability. Notably, supporters of the Left party represent the only significant group to largely believe in Europe’s ability to defend itself (56%).
The data was compiled from a survey conducted between September 12th and 15th, encompassing responses from 1,001 individuals.
