After nearly three years of war, a Gallup survey shows a major shift in Ukrainian opinion.
For the first time, 52% of Ukrainians support negotiating a quick end to the conflict, even if it requires territorial concessions. This contrasts sharply with early 2022, when 73% supported fighting until all lost territories, including Crimea, were regained.
The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has brought devastation across Ukraine. Early defiance in the face of aggression has evolved into fatigue as Ukrainians grapple with the ongoing toll of violence.
The desire for peace reflects this shift, with 2024 being the first year where more Ukrainians favor negotiations than continued fighting.
In the initial years of the war, 92% of Ukrainians equated victory with recovering all lost territory, including Crimea. That number has since dropped to 81%, suggesting an evolving understanding of what might be achievable.
Regions close to the conflict have experienced some of the sharpest declines in support for continued fighting.
In Ukraine’s eastern regions, which remain heavily affected by Russian aggression, 63% now favor a negotiated end, up from a clear majority supporting the fight in previous years. The political context surrounding these changes is complex.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has presented a “victory plan” that includes NATO membership and the use of Western long-range missiles to strike military targets inside Russia. While this plan has received mixed reactions from Western allies, it reflects Zelensky’s commitment to maintaining international support.
The United States, a leading provider of military aid to Ukraine, recently approved the use of long-range missiles, which Ukraine has now used to target Russian territory.
In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a lowering of thresholds for nuclear weapon use, further escalating tensions.
The upcoming change in U.S. leadership is another factor influencing Ukrainian sentiment.
President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly vowed to end the war quickly, claiming he could achieve peace within 24 hours. While Ukrainians remain uncertain about the role the U.S. will play under Trump’s leadership, many are hopeful that his administration’s policies could expedite an end to the conflict.
Zelensky himself has expressed willingness to work with Trump, stating that Ukraine must seize any opportunity to end the war in the coming year. Meanwhile, Putin continues to demand territorial concessions as a precondition for negotiations, a stance that has so far been unacceptable to Ukraine.
Public opinion also reveals shifting attitudes toward potential international mediators.
Most Ukrainians supporting peace negotiations favor the involvement of the European Union and the United Kingdom over the United States.
The survey also highlights growing openness to compromise among Ukrainians. Over half of those supporting negotiations are willing to consider territorial concessions as part of a peace deal, though the specifics of such compromises remain unclear. This pragmatism reflects the harsh realities of a war with no clear end in sight.
As the conflict drags on, Ukrainians’ shifting views reveal a population yearning for resolution, even at a cost. With continued Russian advances and growing uncertainty over Western support, the path forward for Ukraine remains challenging. For many, however, the possibility of peace offers a faint but significant hope amid the devastation.