More Ukrainians now want a negotiated end to the war with Russia, new Gallup poll shows
The enthusiasm for a negotiated deal is a sharp reversal from 2022 — the year the war began — when Gallup found that about three-quarters of Ukrainians wanted to keep fighting until victory. Now only about one-quarter hold that view, with support for continuing the war declining steadily across all regions and demographic groups.
The findings were based on samples of 1,000 or more respondents ages 15 and older living in Ukraine. Some territories under entrenched Russian control, representing about 10% of the population, were excluded from surveys conducted after 2022 due to lack of access.
Since the start of the full-scale war, Russia's relentless pounding of urban areas behind the front line has killed more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to the United Nations. On the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line snaking from northeast to southeast Ukraine, where tens of thousands of troops on both sides have died, Russia's bigger army is slowly capturing more land.
The poll came out on the eve of U.S. President Donald Trump's Friday deadline for Russia to stop the killing or face heavy economic sanctions.
In the new Gallup survey, conducted in early July, about 7 in 10 Ukrainians say their country should seek to negotiate a settlement as soon as possible. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month renewed his offer to meet with Russia's Vladimir Putin, but his overture was rebuffed as Russia sticks to its demands, and the sides remain far apart.
Most Ukrainians do not expect a lasting peace anytime soon, the poll found. Only about one-quarter say it's 'very' or 'somewhat' likely that active fighting will end within the next 12 months, while about 7 in 10 think it's 'somewhat' or 'very' unlikely that active fighting will be over in the next year.
Approval of U.S. falls, approval of Germany rises
Ukrainian views of the American government have cratered over the past few years, while positive views of Germany's leadership have risen, according to Gallup.
Three years ago, about two-thirds of Ukrainians approved of U.S. leadership. That's since fallen to 16% in the latest poll, reflecting new tensions between the two countries since Trump took office in January.
But although the dip from last year was substantial — approval of U.S. leadership was 40% in 2024 — positive views of U.S. leadership were already dropping before Trump took office, perhaps related to the antipathy that prominent Republican politicians showed toward billions of dollars in U.S. support for Ukraine.
Germany has grown more popular among Ukrainians over the past few years, rising to 63% approval in the new poll.
Hope for NATO, EU acceptance has fallen
Ukrainians are much less optimistic that their country will be accepted into NATO or the European Union in the next decade than they were just a few years ago.
In the new poll, about one-third of Ukrainians expect that Ukraine will be accepted into NATO within the next 10 years, while about one-quarter think it will take at least 10 years, and one-third believe it will never happen.
That's down from 2022, when about two-thirds of Ukrainians thought acceptance into NATO would happen in the coming decade and only about 1 in 10 thought it would never happen.
Hope for acceptance into the EU is higher but has also fallen. About half, 52%, of Ukrainians now expect to be part of the EU within the next decade, down from 73% in 2022.
___
Hatton reported from Lisbon, Portugal.
___
Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ottawa Citizen
20 minutes ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Path cleared for Canada to take part in Trump's 'Golden Dome' missile shield
The Liberal government has removed restrictions on missile defence activities, paving the way for Canada to join U.S. President Donald Trump's 'Golden Dome' system or any other similar initiatives. Article content Defence Minister David McGuinty visited the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) headquarters in Colorado on July 15 when he met with U.S. Gen. Gregory Guillot. McGuinty noted the government 'removed all restrictions on air and missile defence of Canada' but specific details were not provided at the time. Article content Article content Article content Defence sources, however, confirmed to the Ottawa Citizen that American officials were told that the February 2005 decision by then-prime minister Paul Martin not to join an existing U.S. missile defence system was no longer valid. At that time, the U.S. wanted Canada to join a largely unproven multi-billion dollar system which was to use ground-based interceptors to destroy incoming missiles aimed at North America. Article content 'The threat environment has drastically changed and Canada needs to be prepared,' McGuinty explained in an email to the Ottawa Citizen. 'By removing outdated restrictions on our air and missile defence policies, Canada is taking another necessary step to strengthen the safety and security of Canadians, and the sovereignty of Canada.' Article content Trump announced in mid-May that the Canadian government had asked to join his missile defence initiative known as Golden Dome. Prime Minister Mark Carney's office later confirmed that negotiations were ongoing, but no specifics have been provided. Article content Article content Article content In a follow-up May 27 post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated it will cost Canada $61 billion US to join the proposed system. 'I told Canada, which very much wants to be part of our fabulous Golden Dome System, that it will cost $61 Billion Dollars if they remain a separate, but unequal, Nation, but will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State. They are considering the offer!' Article content Golden Dome, which will include putting weapons into space, is expected to be one of the most expensive military programs ever launched by the U.S. It was named after the president's favourite colour. Article content Trump noted Golden Dome was a continuation of the space-based Strategic Defence Initiative proposed by Ronald Reagan in 1983. That initiative, nicknamed Star Wars, never got off the ground because of the massive cost and technological hurdles.
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Vice President JD Vance to visit Indiana as Trump pressures GOP states to redistrict
Vice President JD Vance visits Indiana on Thursday to discuss redistricting with Republican leaders as President Donald Trump ramps up pressure on GOP states to redraw congressional boundaries and give the party more winnable seats in the 2026 midterm elections. Vance is scheduled to hold private meetings with Gov. Mike Braun and others before attending a GOP fundraiser Thursday night in the solidly Republican state. Braun told reporters Tuesday he expects to discuss several matters with the vice president — including redistricting — but said no commitments have been made. 'It looks like it's going to happen across many Republican states,' Braun said. Vance's visit comes after Texas Democrats successfully stalled a vote there this week on a redrawn congressional map, part of a bid to secure five more GOP-leaning congressional seats at the expense of Democrats before the midterms. The White House's goal is to give Republicans an easier path to maintaining control of the House. Indiana is staunchly Republican, but opponents of any redistricting attempt are planning to make their objections known Thursday with protests and a news conference by the two Democratic members of the state's congressional delegation. Braun would have to call a special session if he chooses to start the redistricting process, but lawmakers have the sole power to draw up new maps. Braun's office has not responded to multiple emailed requests seeking more details about Vance's visit. Republican U.S. representatives outnumber Democrats in Indiana 7-2, limiting the possibilities of squeezing out another seat. The constitutionality of the move would also almost certainly be challenged in court. Indiana lawmakers have been wary of the national spotlight in recent years, especially after a special session in 2022 resulted in lawmakers enacting a strict ban on abortions. Braun is a staunch ally of Trump in a state with a strong base of loyalists to the president. But Indiana is also home to Mike Pence, the former vice president and a past governor whose more measured approach to partisan politics still holds sway among many state lawmakers. The GOP would likely target Indiana's 1st Congressional District, a longtime Democratic stronghold that encompasses Gary and other cities near Chicago in the state's northwest corner. The seat held by third-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan has been seen as a possible pickup in recent years as manufacturing union jobs have left the area, said Laura Merrifield Wilson, a professor of political science at the University of Indianapolis. Lawmakers in Indiana redrew the borders of the district to be slightly more favorable towards Republicans in the 2022 election, but did not entirely split it up. The new maps were not challenged in court after they were approved in 2021, not even by Democrats and allies who had opposed the changes that also gave a boost to the GOP in the suburbs north of Indianapolis. Mrvan won reelection in 2022 by a respectable margin and easily retained his seat again in 2024. In a statement Tuesday, Mrvan said the Trump administration knows its policies are 'wildly unpopular.' 'They know that their only hope to maintain control is to pressure the Indiana General Assembly to violate the Indiana Constitution and redistrict U.S. House of Representative(s) seats mid-decade,' he added. The more dramatic option would be to zero in on Indiana's 7th Congressional District, composed entirely of Marion County and the Democratic stronghold of Indianapolis. Indiana's legislative leaders, House Speaker Todd Huston and Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, held their same positions four years ago when the Legislature finalized the new maps. Both expressed approval of the final product and said the borders fairly reflected the makeup of the state. 'I believe these maps reflect feedback from the public and will serve Hoosiers well for the next decade,' Bray said at the time. Both leaders have been quiet on the possibility of a special session. Bray and Huston's offices did not respond to multiple messages left over the phone and email Wednesday. Republicans hold a supermajority in the Indiana House and Senate, meaning Democrats could not stop a special session by refusing to attend. Julia Vaughn, director of Common Cause Indiana, said a costly redistricting process will not look good for Republicans who tightened the belt on the state budget this past legislative session due to revenue forecasts. Common Cause is one of the leading groups nationally opposing Trump's push to redistrict. 'I don't think there is any way they could rationalize spending taxpayer dollars to come back to Indianapolis to redraw maps that were just drawn four years ago for purely partisan purposes,' Vaughn said.
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
South Korean investigators seek arrest of wife of jailed ex-President Yoon
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean investigators on Thursday requested a warrant to arrest the wife of jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol, a day after questioning her over suspicions including bribery, stock manipulation and political influence-peddling. Yoon, for the second time in a week, resisted an attempt to compel him to appear for questioning in his wife's case, forcing prison officials to abandon their efforts after an hourlong struggle due to concerns of injury, the investigators said. The detention warrant for Yoon expires Thursday. The investigation targeting Yoon's wife, Kim Keon Hee, is one of three separate special prosecutor probes launched under the government of new liberal President Lee Jae Myung related to Yoon, who was removed from office in April and rearrested last month over his brief imposition of martial law in December. The investigation team questioned Kim for about seven hours on Wednesday on various allegations, including claims that Yoon and Kim exerted undue influence over the conservative party's candidate nominations for a parliamentary by-election in 2022. Kim is also suspected of receiving a necklace and other gifts through a fortuneteller acting as an intermediary for a Unification Church official seeking business favors, and of possible involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme. The team said they listed multiple charges in the warrant request for Kim, including violations of financial market and political funding laws and acceptance of bribes. In her brief comments to reporters as she appeared for questioning on Wednesday, Kim issued a vague apology for causing public concern but also hinted that she would deny the accusations against her, calling herself 'someone insignificant.' Yoon, who faces a high-stakes trial on rebellion and other charges, previously resisted an attempt by investigators on Friday last week to bring him to their office for questioning over his wife. Investigators said he took off his prison uniform and lay down on the floor of his cell in his underwear until they gave up. Investigators were less specific about Yoon's actions on Thursday but said he 'strongly resisted' and that there were concerns that he might be injured if the struggle continued. Yoon's lawyers criticized the repeated attempts to force him to appear for questioning, stating that he has already made clear his intention to exercise his right to remain silent and accusing investigators of infringing upon his rights in order to publicly shame him. Yoon's ill-fated imposition of martial law on Dec. 3 came during a seemingly routine standoff with the liberals, whom he labeled as 'anti-state' forces abusing their legislative majority to obstruct his agenda. Some political opponents have questioned whether the conservative leader's actions were at least partly motivated by growing allegations against his wife, which hurt his approval ratings and gave political ammunition to his rivals. While in office, Yoon repeatedly dismissed calls to investigate his wife, denouncing them as baseless political attacks. After winning the early presidential election in June, new liberal President Lee Jae Myung approved legislation to launch sweeping special investigations into Yoon's martial law debacle, the allegations against his wife, and the 2023 drowning death of a marine during a flood rescue operation, an incident the liberals claim Yoon's government tried to cover up.
