Just 15.7 percent of those polled by the Razumkov research institute opposed the idea of Ukraine joining the European Union, while 64.8 percent supported the idea, Interfax reported. Nearly 20 percent said they were undecided.

Ukraine has set itself the goal of joining the European Union by 2010.

Ukrainians' support for joining the EU has hovered around 60 percent for the past decade, the Razumkov institute said.

The center found that Ukrainians' support for NATO membership has dropped, due in part to the US-led war on Iraq -- with most Ukrainians associating the military alliance with Washington while many of them opposed the war, according to the centers' analysts.

Just 23 percent of the 2,011 Ukrainians polled by the institute in early June said they would vote in favor of NATO membership if a referendum were held, while 39.9 percent said they would vote against.

Thirteen percent refused to answer the question and 24.1 percent said they were undecided.

In 2001 and 2002, the percentage of Ukrainians opposing NATO membership was equal to the number against it at around 30 percent, the Razumkov center said.

Ukraine wants to the join NATO, but the military alliance is insisting on tough military reforms before the former Soviet republic can be considered for membership.

Kiev signed a partnership accord with NATO in 1997.

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