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Most Europeans and Americans Believe Russia Will Spark World War III, Survey Reveals
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
A growing number of people across the US and Western Europe believe a third world war is likely to erupt within the next 5 to 10 years—and most expect it to be far deadlier than the last, with most respondents believing that it might start because of Russian actions, according to a new poll by British research firm YouGov, reported by The Guardian on May 6.
Between 41% and 55% of Europeans and 45% of Americans now consider the risk of a new global conflict to be either “high” or “fairly high.” An even larger majority—68% to 76% of respondents—believe any future world war would involve the use of nuclear weapons.
When asked to identify the greatest source of danger, between 72% and 82% of respondents in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain pointed to Russia as the primary threat. Among Americans, 69% shared this view. The second most-cited threat across both continents was Islamic terrorism.
Worryingly, 57% to 73% of those surveyed said they believe a future war would result in greater human losses than World War II, and between 25% and 44% fear that it could even lead to the deaths of a significant portion of the world’s population.
Despite these forecasts, public confidence in national defense capabilities remains weak across much of Europe. In Italy, just 16% of respondents expressed confidence in their military’s ability to defend the country in the event of war.
In France, that figure rises to just 44%. In contrast, a strong majority of Americans—71%—said they believe the US military could protect the country in a major conflict.
Respondents were asked about the evolving role of the United States on the global stage. In Spain, 58% of respondents said they see Washington’s shifting foreign policy as a serious threat to peace in Europe. That view was shared by 55% in Germany and 53% in France.
The YouGov survey also explored how people in the West remember World War II—and what lessons they believe still matter today.
When asked which country played the most decisive role in defeating Nazi Germany, between 40% and 52% of respondents named the United States, while 17% to 28% credited the Soviet Union. Notably, 41% of Britons named the UK as the main victor, although only 5% to 11% of respondents in the US and elsewhere in Europe agreed.
Despite differences in historical emphasis, a vast majority—82% to 90%—agreed that teaching World War II history in schools remains important, and 72% to 87% said understanding the roots and causes of the war is still relevant today.
Additionally, between 31% (in Spain) and 52% (in the US) said they believe the kind of crimes committed in Germany during the 1930s and 1940s could happen again in their own country during their lifetime.
Earlier, reports emerged that an overwhelming majority of Americans do not believe Ukraine bears more responsibility for the war Russia launched against it.
70% of respondents said they do not hold Ukraine more accountable for the war, while only 7% expressed the opposite view.
Meanwhile, 23% either did not know or chose not to answer the question of whether Ukraine was more to blame for the war.
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