As the war with Russia continues, an increasing number of Ukrainians believe that some territorial concessions might be acceptable for a quicker resolution of the conflict.
The Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) reported that in a survey conducted from May to June 2024 with 3,075 Ukrainian respondents, 32% stated that some territory could be conceded to achieve peace as soon as possible while maintaining independence.
This survey focused on residents in areas controlled by the Ukrainian government, excluding those living in Russian-occupied territories and refugees who fled abroad.
In a survey conducted from May 2022 to May 2023, only 8 to 10% of respondents were willing to consider territorial concessions for peace. An overwhelming majority, between 82% and 87%, opposed any cession of land.
However, as the war continued, the percentage of those willing to concede territory increased. By the end of 2023, that figure had risen to 19%, reaching 26% in February and 32% in May 2024, more than tripling since the early days of the conflict.
Despite this increase, most respondents wanted to sever ties with Russia even if territorial concessions were made. Among those who are open to ceding territory, 46% believe that Russia is committing physical genocide against Ukraine, while only 5% expressed willingness to share a pro-Russian narrative.
Even with this increase, the sentiment for territorial concessions still accounts for only one-third of all respondents. The majority still oppose territorial concessions. The proportion of respondents who believe that no land should be conceded has decreased from 84% in May last year to 55%, a drop of 29 percentage points over one year.
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