KYIV. April 19 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Almost half of Ukrainians support the idea of visa-free travel to EU member states, while 20% of respondents are against welcoming refugees where they live, according to a poll conducted by SocioStreаm AG.

"Some 49% of those interviewed said visa-free travel to Europe "important," 25% said it was "not important" and 26% found it "difficult to say," according to SocioStreаm AG expert Ivan Kolodiy, who spoke about the poll during a press conference hosted by Interfax-Ukraine news agency on Monday.

Kolodiy said among those who think visa-free travel is "important" 55% are willing to move to EU for an extended period (35% for work, 5% for studies and 10% for permanent residence).

Some 69% were against - or completely opposed to - accepting Syrian refugees, with only 10% of those polled willing to accept refugees in population centers. Some 10% agreed to welcome refugees, but not where they live. Only 8% of those polled said they would be willing to host refugees if they are Christian, while 3% found it "difficult to say."

Most of those interviewed said the (negative) results of the Dutch referendum were influenced by the ineffectiveness of Ukraine's government. Some 31% of those surveyed said reforms in Ukraine had not achieved results, 18% blamed Ukraine's government for failing to inform Dutch voters (about the situation in Ukraine) and 22% blamed the negative outcome of the plebiscite on the "unwillingness of the Dutch to accept migrants." Some 10% blamed Russia for the result, 7% blamed EU bureaucracy and 2% gave other reasons. Some 11% of those polled replied "difficult to say."

As for (Ukraine's) relations with Russia, 27% said Ukraine-Russia relations in respect to sanctions should be the same as between the West and the Russia. Some 16% of respondents favored the unilateral lifting of sanctions against Russia and 18% said sanctions should be removed on the condition hostilities in Donbas cease. Some 8% of those polled called for lifting sanctions against Russia only if Crimea is returned (to Ukraine), while 9% found it "difficult to say."

The survey was conducted by interview from April 6 to April 12, 2016. Some 40 pollsters interviewed a total of 1,203 people.

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