Sociologist Alexey Antipovich told a Kyiv briefing that roughly 60 percent of Ukrainians now favor a negotiated compromise with Russia to end the war, while about one-third insist on restoring all pre-2022 borders or fighting to reclaim every occupied inch.
The figure comes from repeated polling by his Kyiv-based Sociological Group “Rating,” shared during a press conference reported by EADaily and echoed by UNIAN. Antipovich noted that support for negotiations grows whenever the topic dominates public discourse, reflecting a population weary after more than two years of full-scale invasion. At the same time, he highlighted a stark divergence in what Ukrainians envision as victory: many question whether reclaiming territory alone constitutes success if Russia faces no accountability for its actions.
These findings arrive amid a growing counter-narrative in Ukrainian media warning that any talk of concessions risks undermining the hard-won gains of national resilience. An editorial on Glavcom argued that calls for territorial compromise ignore what Ukraine has built since 2014—a functioning state, a battle-tested army, and the ability to shape the war’s trajectory rather than merely endure it. The piece warned that forgetting the historical cost of sovereignty could lead to catastrophic misjudgment.
Most Ukrainians see negotiation as the best path forward, but definitions of victory remain deeply divided
According to Antipovich’s surveys, approximately 60 percent of respondents believe a negotiated compromise offers the best route to ending hostilities, with the caveat that such an agreement should involve international partners like the United States and Europe. Another third maintain that only full restoration of Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders—or a return to the lines existing before February 2022—would be acceptable. The remaining respondents either remain undecided or advocate alternative outcomes not specified in the polling.
Crucially, the sociologist observed that when asked what they truly expect or believe will happen, Ukrainians’ answers diverge sharply. Many express skepticism that military victory alone would resolve the conflict’s deeper wounds, noting that defeating Russia on the battlefield does not automatically deliver justice or prevent future aggression. This uncertainty fuels debate over whether territorial reclamation without accountability could leave the root causes of the war unaddressed.
One in six Ukrainians considers leaving the country, especially men of fighting age
Beyond attitudes toward peace talks, Antipovich’s data revealed that roughly one in six Ukrainians would like to emigrate in the near term, a sentiment particularly pronounced among men. While he did not specify preferred destinations, the statistic underscores the war’s toll on personal stability and long-term planning, even as most citizens express a desire for some form of resolution—whether through negotiation or continued resistance.
The emigration inclination reflects a broader exhaustion that permeates Ukrainian society, where daily life continues amid air raid alerts, infrastructure damage, and the constant mobilization of resources. Yet this fatigue exists alongside remarkable institutional endurance: Ukraine’s government remains operational, its armed forces continue to resist a larger adversary, and civil society adapts to wartime demands.
Warnings against concessions frame the debate as a test of national memory
The Glavcom editorial pushed back against the notion that compromise equals pragmatism, arguing that such rhetoric risks erasing the historical struggle required to achieve even basic statehood. It reminded readers that independent Ukrainian statehood was intermittent and fragile before 2014, lacking strong institutions or a capable military. Today’s ability to confront Russia—not just survive but influence the war’s course—represents a hard-won shift that should not be surrendered lightly.
By contrasting past helplessness with present agency, the piece warned that focusing on immediate frustrations—bureaucratic delays, personal hardships, or tactical setbacks—could obscure the strategic progress made since 2022. It framed the current debate not as a simple choice between war and peace, but as a reckoning with what Ukraine has fought to preserve and what it risks losing if resolve falters.
What percentage of Ukrainians support a negotiated compromise with Russia?
According to sociologist Alexey Antipovich, approximately 60 percent of Ukrainians believe the best way to end the war is through a compromise reached in negotiations, preferably involving international partners such as the United States and Europe.
What do Ukrainians who oppose concessions fear most about giving up territory?
Critics argue that calls for territorial compromise overlook the immense cost of building a functioning state and capable military since 2014, warning that surrendering hard-won gains could undermine Ukraine’s ability to resist aggression and jeopardize the sovereignty achieved through years of struggle.
