How many Ukrainians support compromise with Russia to end the war, poll reveals
Illustrative photo: War in Ukraine (Getty Images)
In Ukraine, nearly 60% of citizens support seeking compromises to end the war, while only 20% back continuing the conflict until the return of Donbas and Crimea. At the same time, three-quarters of Ukrainians agree that peace should be achieved only after receiving effective security guarantees, reports the Rating Group survey.
The survey results show the following distribution of public opinion:
- 59% of respondents support stopping hostilities and seeking compromise.
- 20% favor continuing the war until Donbas and Crimea are returned.
- 13% support continuing the war until the frontlines/borders as of February 23, 2022, are restored.
Ukrainians' views on ending the war:
- 82% of respondents see negotiations as the only realistic way to stop the war.
- 62% support seeking a compromise with the involvement of other countries, while 20% back direct talks with Russia without intermediaries.
- 75% of Ukrainians agree that Ukraine can only accept an end to the war after receiving international security guarantees.
Security guarantees Ukrainians consider acceptable and most important:
- 52% - arms deliveries and funding for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
- 48% - commitments from allies to enter the war if Russia attacks Ukraine again.
- 44% - international monitoring of air and maritime space.
- 58% consider European funding and arms supplies to the Armed Forces of Ukraine the most important. Only 31% cited the return of territories as a top priority.
When asked what Ukraine is fighting for against Russian occupiers, respondents most often chose "for the future of our children" (60%) and "for freedom" (44%).
The survey was conducted from August 21 to 23 among 1,600 Ukrainian citizens aged 18 and older. It covered all regions except temporarily occupied territories in Crimea and Donbas, as well as areas without Ukrainian mobile coverage at the time. The statistical margin of error is no more than 2.5%.
Shifts in sentiment are not surrender
Notably, in August 2025, Ukrainian attitudes toward continuing the war changed significantly. However, this does not indicate a willingness to make concessions to Russia or to capitulate.
According to a Gallup survey conducted in July 2025, the majority of Ukrainians (69%) favored ending the war as quickly as possible through negotiations, while 24% supported continuing the fight until victory. This is almost the opposite of public opinion in 2022, when 73% wanted Ukraine to fight until victory, and 22% preferred trying to reach an agreement as soon as possible.
Data from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology show that among conditional plans for ending the war, proposals from the European Union are the most acceptable to Ukrainians. They reject Russia’s demands for capitulation and view Donald Trump’s intentions with skepticism.
