Most Germans Still Back Arming Ukraine—63% Want Military Aid Maintained or Increased

Nearly two-thirds of German voters support maintaining or increasing European military assistance to Ukraine, according to the latest ZDF-Politbarometer poll released by German public broadcaster ZDF on October 8.

The survey found that 30% of respondents believe European countries should increase military support for Ukraine, while another 33% want assistance to remain at its current level. Combined, 63% favor either maintaining or expanding military aid.

Another 33% of respondents said Europe should reduce military support for Ukraine, highlighting a significant minority opposed to the current level of assistance.

The divide becomes especially pronounced among supporters of the Alternative for Germany, or AfD. According to the poll, 83% of AfD voters favor cutting military aid to Ukraine, putting the party’s electorate sharply at odds with the overall national picture.

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War in Ukraine

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The survey was conducted by Forschungsgruppe Wahlen between October 5 and October 7, 2026, and included 1,311 eligible German voters interviewed by telephone and online. The results are considered representative of Germany’s voting-age population.

The poll has a margin of error of roughly three percentage points for results around 40% and approximately two percentage points for figures near 10%.

So far, Germany has delivered tanks and more than 154 armored vehicles. In addition, Germany donated 30 Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, two Patriot batteries, and two IRIS-T systems.

It also supplied 500 Stinger missiles or launchers, the largest documented quantity among the donors compared.

Earlier, Ukraine publicly revealed its Rheinmetall Skyranger 35 air defense system for the first time, confirming that the latest German-built anti-aircraft gun is already operational and may have been serving with Ukrainian forces for considerably longer than previously believed.

The 1020th Anti-Aircraft Missile and Artillery Regiment released the footage, showing the Leopard 1-based system and a brief sequence in which it engages an aerial target.

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