KYIV. April 19 (Interfax-Ukraine) - About half of the Ukrainian population supports the idea of a visa-free regime with the European Union, but oppose the acceptance of refugees in the country, as evidenced by the data of sociological research conducted by SocioStream AG.

"Some 49% of respondents consider the introduction of a visa-free regime with the EU important, 25% not important, while 26% failed to express certain opinions," member of the advisory council of SocioStream AG Ivan Kolodiy said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine.

According to him, among those who consider the introduction of a visa-free regime important some 55% intend to move to the EU for a long time (work - 35%, education - 5%, permanent residence - 10%).

At the same time, 69% of respondents are against or strongly against receiving Syrian refugees. Some 10% are ready to accept refugees in their community, 10% agree to accept refugees but not in their settlement. Some 8% of people polled are ready to accept refugees in their locality under the condition they are Christians, while 3% failed to say exactly.

With regard to relations with Russia, 27% of respondents believe that relations between Ukraine and Russia in matters of sanctions should be the same as between Western countries and Russia. Some 22% of respondents consider it is necessary to terminate all relations with the Russian Federation. At the same time, 16% of persons polled support the full lifting of sanctions against Russia, while 18% support the cancellation of sanctions under the condition of ending the war in Donbas, 8% of respondents support lifting sanctions under the term of returning Crimea, while 9% failed to say exactly.

The survey was conducted by interviews from April 6 to April 12, 2016. Some 1,203 people were polled. Some 40 interviewers were involved in a field study.