According to the latest poll conducted by U.S. institute Gallup in Ukraine, a total of 52% of Ukrainians would like Ukraine to negotiate an end to the war as soon as possible, while 38% believe that it is necessary to fight until victory. A significant proportion of those in favour of a quick end to the war believe that Ukraine should be open to making some territorial concessions as part of a peace deal to end the war, while 38% disagree and another 10% don’t know.
It should be noted that the current situation is fundamentally different from 2022 when a poll conducted a few months after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion showed that Ukrainians were fairly determined: 73% favoured fighting to the end.
The poll also revealed an interesting aspect namely that Ukrainians would prefer the EU (70%) and the UK (63%) as potential negotiators in a peace process, with the United States only in third place. According to previous polls, roughly half of Ukrainians who favored peace wanted the U.S. to play a significant role in potential peace negotiations. It is worth noting that this particular point of the poll has not been published by the Ukrainian mass media.
The results of the abovementioned poll by Gallup point to three major aspects.
First and foremost, as fatigue has intensified this year, Ukrainians more and more favor a negotiated peace. Apparently, President Zelenskyy has failed to win the hearts and minds of Ukrainians with his Victory Plan, just as it has not been met with unanonimous support by the West.
Second, in the third year of the war, a certain disillusionment with the U.S. has grown among Ukrainians, which is not surprising given the Biden administration’s moves on Ukraine. This disappointment is reflected, for example, in the fact that Ukrainians would prefer to see the EU as a negotiating partner rather than Washington. The Biden administration can hardly be proud of that… The lack of understanding of Ukraine by Joe Biden and his team can be seen in the words of National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who, when asked by a journalist about Biden’s political legacy on Ukraine, replied as follows:
’It can be defined in two words: Kyiv stands. The country was at risk of being wiped off the map. And thanks to the brave Ukrainian people and their resourcefulness and their courage, but also thanks to President Joe Biden rallying countries from around the world, we defended Kyiv, we defended Ukraine…’
From these words, Sullivan seems to believe he personally has fought for Kyiv risking his life, and it is also clear that he does not really understand that Kyiv is not the same as Ukraine…
Thirdly, the fact that Ukrainians are increasingly open to territorial concessions in exchange for peace, besides the failure of the political course by Kyiv and the U.S., is also a sign of a growing desire for peace among Ukrainians.
And if so, now is the appropriate time to consider potential lands that, as part of a territorial consession, could contribute to a lasting peace. In addition, those EU leaders, whom Ukrainians would like to see as peace brokers, should be thinking about this particular issue, rather than sending more arms supplies to ’support’ Ukraine.
Ukrainians have reached their limits. There is no Ukrainian progress on the frontline. Ukraine’s future still looks very uncertain. In addition, the new political realities, including Donald Trump’s return to the White House, may also encourage Ukrainians to seek a negotiated peace, even if it means conceding territory.
Can you hear your people, Mr President?
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