4 days ago
Vast majority of Ukrainians now want peace talks
The vast majority of Ukrainians now support ending the conflict with Russia through peace negotiations rather than continued fighting, according to a new survey released Thursday by the US-based polling firm Gallup.
The poll found that 69% of respondents favor a negotiated settlement to the war — a sharp reversal from 2022, when 73% said Ukraine should fight until victory. Gallup described the shift as a 'nearly complete reversal' of public sentiment since the conflict escalated in the spring of that year.
Support for negotiations has grown across all regions and demographic groups, the researchers said, indicating a broad-based decline in support for the war effort.
Despite the shift in opinion, few Ukrainians believe the fighting will end soon. Only 25% of respondents said they think active hostilities are likely to stop within the next 12 months, and just 5% consider such an outcome 'very likely.'
In contrast, 68% believe it is unlikely that the conflict will end within a year.
The findings come amid growing public fatigue in Ukraine, driven by mounting casualties, economic hardship, and an increasingly unpopular draft. The government introduced general mobilization in 2022 and later lowered the conscription age. Last month, Vladimir Zelensky signed a law allowing men over 60 to enlist on a contract basis. Reports of harsh enforcement, desertion, and corruption have further eroded public trust. Zelensky, who once held a 90% approval rating, is now supported by just 52% of the population, with a majority saying he should not seek another term.
The decline in trust appears to reflect a broader shift in public sentiment toward diplomacy. According to Gallup, the change comes as peace efforts are beginning to gain new momentum. An in-person meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart, Donald Trump, could take place as early as next week, according to the Kremlin. Putin named the UAE as one possible location.
The poll also showed growing disillusionment with Ukraine's Western backers, particularly the United States. Approval of American leadership has dropped to 16%, while disapproval has climbed to 73%. Still, 70% of respondents want Washington involved in peace talks, alongside the EU and the UK, which received 75% and 71% support, respectively. Belief in Ukraine's accession to NATO has halved since 2022, and hopes for joining the EU have also declined.
