Study: Support for Ukraine tops the list of issues dividing Germans and goes beyond the issue of facilitating immigration

A study issued by the Mercator Forum on Migration and Democracy (MIDEM) of the Technical University of Dresden reported that the issue of support for Ukraine has become the most contentious issue in Germany, ahead of the immigration issue that has dominated public debate for years.

According to the study led by Forum Director Hans Vorlander and published by the German News Agency today, Tuesday (November 10, 2026), the Russian-Ukrainian war created widespread political and emotional polarization among the Germans, and this made it the most sensitive issue on the domestic scene.

A growing gap between supporters of support for Ukraine and supporters of rapprochement with Russia

The results showed that about 54% of Germans support continued support for Ukraine in the face of the Russian attack, while about 29% see rapprochement with Russia as a positive option. The percentage of those with pro-Moscow positions has also clearly increased compared to previous polls.

The study indicated that about 17% of participants were unable to determine a clear position on this issue, and this reflects a state of hesitation and division within German society.

Emotional polarization emerges among supporters of certain parties

The study was not limited to measuring political positions, but also addressed what is known as “emotional polarization,” that is, the extent of acceptance or rejection of those with different opinions. The results showed that supporters of the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany party and the Green Party are more likely to evaluate those who disagree with them negatively.

The researchers explained that these groups show a greater willingness for emotional division compared to supporters of parties such as the Christian Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party, and the Left Party.

The study indicated that men are more inclined, on average, to emotional polarization compared to women. People over the age of 70, as well as those with low levels of education, also showed a higher-than-average tendency to reject people who hold positions contrary to their views.

Immigration is still an influential issue but has declined

Despite its decline to second place in terms of causing division, the study showed that 65.1% of the population supports restricting the opportunities for foreigners to come to Germany, a percentage that has not changed much compared to the previous year.