Majority of Ukrainians Favor Peace and Negotiations to End the War, Recent Surveys Show
Over the past few months, Ukrainian society has demonstrated a notable shift in its attitude towards the ongoing war and the prospects for its resolution.
According to the results of an extensive survey conducted by the sociological group ‘Rating’ from August 21 to 23, 2023, most Ukrainians express support for ceasefire and the pursuit of diplomatic solutions to resolve the conflict.
This indicates a significant transition from emotional reactions to a more pragmatic and realistic approach to the situation.
Specifically, 59% of respondents believe that ending the crisis is achievable through negotiations and reaching compromises, marking a notable increase from previous months.
Meanwhile, a substantial portion of citizens still favor stringent positions: 20% think the war should continue until Ukraine regains control over Donbas and Crimea, while another 13% insist on returning Ukrainian troops to the pre-2022 borders as of February 23rd.
At the end of 2022, those supporting ongoing military actions until the full liberation of occupied territories reached 73%.
The survey also revealed that over 80% of Ukrainians see negotiations, including involving third-party countries as mediators, as a realistic path to peace, with 62% favoring diplomatic engagement and 20% supporting direct talks with Russia.
A minority of respondents advocate abandoning negotiations entirely in favor of military efforts to reclaim all occupied territories.
The survey was conducted via telephone interviews with over 1,600 adults across Ukraine, excluding temporarily occupied areas and regions lacking mobile coverage.
The sample was representative by age, gender, and settlement type, with a margin of error no greater than 2.5% and a confidence level of 95%.
According to a global Gallup poll, 69% of Ukrainians support the idea of an early resolution of the conflict through peaceful negotiations.
In an interview with ZN.UA, sociologist Yevhen Holovha noted that these findings indicate a shift from euphoria to realism within Ukrainian society, fostering more practical approaches to ending the war.