A recent survey shows that while many Ukrainians support efforts to reach peace, the vast majority reject territorial concessions or limits on sovereignty – highlighting a sharp contrast with growing pressure from Washington for Kyiv to pursue a negotiated settlement.
US President Donald Trump said he is “interested” in when Ukraine will next hold elections, adding that he believes more than 80% of Ukrainians “want a deal” to end the war.
Speaking at a roundtable with business leaders at the White House on Wednesday, Dec. 10, Trump said:
“I think he [Zelensky] has to be realistic. And I do wonder about how long is it going to be till they have an election? It’s a democracy. It’s a long time. They haven’t had an election in a long time. It’s losing a lot of people.”
Trump also referred to a poll – without specifying which one – that he claimed shows 82% of Ukrainians favor a negotiated settlement.
“There was a poll that came out: 82% of the people are demanding that a settlement be made. Ukrainian people want to see a settlement be made. I understand that they’re losing thousands and thousands of people a week. They want to see it ended,” he said.
He further added that Ukraine faces “a massive corruption situation” and reiterated his view that the war “can be settled,” adding that “it takes two to tango.”
The research agency Info Sapiens published a study on Dec. 8 titled “Attitudes of Ukrainians to Possible Concessions by Russia,” which found that 77% of Ukrainians believe the country should make certain concessions to achieve peace.
However, for most respondents, the nature of those concessions is crucial, according to the survey conducted in November.
The researchers clarified that the survey began before the latest round of negotiations and before publication of the initial version of the so-called 28-point peace plan. Therefore, the list of concessions used to assess public attitudes was compiled without reference to that plan.
At the same time, 30% of respondents said they were not ready to accept any concessions. Participants were asked to assess the acceptability of 10 potential concessions, and all were viewed negatively (with more than 50% responding “No, not an acceptable condition” or “Rather not”).
Some NATO-related items appear somewhat more acceptable. A ban on deploying NATO military bases or troops in Ukraine is acceptable for 21% of respondents and rather acceptable for another 22%. Abandoning NATO membership is acceptable for 20% and rather acceptable for 19%.
By contrast, giving up on EU membership is acceptable for 14% and unacceptable for 47%t of respondents. Recognition of Russian control over Crimea is acceptable for 13% and unacceptable for 48%.
Proposals involving the transfer of Ukrainian territories that Russia claims but has not occupied are viewed most negatively. Transferring control over the Donetsk and Luhansk regions is acceptable for 7% and rather acceptable for 11%, while 61% find the idea unacceptable. Transferring Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions is acceptable for only 2% and 1 percent, respectively, and 82% view such concessions as unacceptable.
Public opinion is similarly negative toward demands to reduce the size or funding of Ukraine’s Armed Forces. This is acceptable for 7% and unacceptable for 68% of respondents.
The survey was conducted using the CATI method (computer-assisted telephone interviews) with a random sample of mobile phone numbers. The research sample consisted of 1,000 interviews, with a theoretical sampling error not exceeding 3.1% at a 0.95 probability level.
On May 16, the first direct talks between Ukraine and Russia since 2022 took place in Istanbul, Turkey. The Ukrainian delegation was led by then-Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and the Russian delegation was headed by former Culture Minister and current Putin aide Vladimir Medinsky.
That same day, the Rating sociological group conducted a survey on the Istanbul talks, which showed that an overwhelming majority of Ukrainians (74%) support a 30-day ceasefire without any conditions. However, only a quarter believed the talks would bring Ukraine closer to peace.
Meanwhile, 47% said Ukraine should continue demonstrating openness to negotiations, and that President Zelensky could take part in them even if Putin were absent.
According to respondents, the main reasons for Putin’s absence from the talks are his reluctance to end the war (54%) and fear (22%).
Kyiv Post spoke with several Ukrainians of different ages and professions, and all tended to oppose concluding a peace agreement “on any terms.”
Kateryna, a 33-year-old data scientist, said:
“I think that most Ukrainians would not agree to a settlement on any terms, because under such circumstances the war could resume at any moment. After four years of full-scale war, there are no illusions about the Russian Federation and its plans. We need an agreement that will ensure long-term peace with European and American security guarantees.”
Olena, a 41-year-old journalist, said:
“I am fundamentally concerned about the terms on which peace will be concluded. I’ve lived for three years in a full-scale war, I am probably ready to live like this for some time, but I don’t want my parents to live in Russia.”
Vadym, a 36-year-old Ukrainian veteran, told Kyiv Post:
“All my comrades are of the same opinion: peace through war. Victory is the collapse of Russia. Russia imposes a truce, so it is obvious that it is beneficial for them. Stopping or freezing the war will lead to the degradation of the Ukrainian army.”