A recent poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) has revealed that nearly one-third of Ukrainians might accept giving up some land to Russia to quickly end the ongoing war. This is a significant increase compared to previous years. Last year, only 10% were open to this idea, and by the end of last year, it had risen to 19%.
Despite this increase, the majority of Ukrainians, 55%, still oppose making any territorial concessions to Russia. This sentiment comes as the conflict, now lasting nearly 29 months, continues with Russia occupying about 18% of Ukrainian territory. This includes the Crimean peninsula, which Russia seized in 2014.
The poll, conducted between May 16-22, surveyed 1,067 people living in Ukrainian-held territories. However, the survey did not specify which areas people would be willing to concede or how large these concessions should be. KIIS noted that those who support concessions might see it as a temporary measure rather than a permanent surrender of territory.
In 2022, Russia unilaterally declared it had annexed four Ukrainian regions: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, even though it only partially controls these areas.
Anton Hrushetskyi, the executive director of KIIS, emphasized that while some Ukrainians might be open to concessions, they do not support a peace deal with Russia at any cost. “It’s important that in the context of possible ‘concessions’, Ukrainians are against ‘peace on any terms’,” he said.
The ongoing conflict has seen Ukrainian troops struggle against a strong Russian offensive. Last year’s counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces did not achieve significant gains, putting them on the defensive this year.
KIIS also mentioned that some respondents might be open to postponing the liberation of certain territories to a later, more favorable time. This indicates a willingness to be flexible in the short term without giving up on long-term goals.
Overall, the poll highlights a shift in public opinion, with more Ukrainians considering territorial concessions as a potential path to peace, though the majority still firmly oppose giving up land to Russia.
Comments