55% of Ukrainians oppose territorial concessions to achieve peace, poll shows

The number of Ukrainians opposed to territorial concessions to Russia in exchange for peace has continued to decline in recent months, from 55% in May, according to a July 23 poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS).

Similar KIIS polls conducted in February and December 2023 found 65% and 74% opposed, respectively.

The poll found that the number of respondents who said they were willing to cede territory to “achieve peace and maintain independence” rose to 32% in May.

There was some geographical variation in the results, with the highest level of opposition to any form of territorial concession coming from the west of the country (60%) and the lowest from the south (46%).

When asked about possible acceptable terms for peace, the largest number of respondents (62%) said that a situation in which Ukraine gets back all occupied territories and becomes a member of the EU, but refuses to join NATO, would receive the broadest support.

Another proposal, under which Ukraine would de facto relinquish control over Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, as well as Crimea, but regain full control over Kherson and Zaporizhia oblasts and join NATO and the EU, came in second with 53%.

Despite changing attitudes toward territorial concessions over time, “Ukrainians are against ‘peace on any terms,’” said KIIS Director Anton Hrushetskyi.

‘I Don’t Care’ – JD Vance on Ukraine, in His Own Words

The selection of Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio as Donald Trump’s running mate this week has caused a wave of concern around the world, not least in Ukraine. Vance, one of the most outspoken opponents of U.S. aid to Ukraine, has a long catalog of statements that

“The priority requirement is security and really convincing guarantees. If there is no convincing security configuration, Ukrainians will not accept such an option.”

The idea of ​​making territorial concessions in exchange for peace is still controversial in Ukraine. Many fear that such a move would only create a temporary halt to the fighting, allowing Russia to reassemble its forces and restart the war in the future.

External pressure on Ukraine to accept territorial concessions as a means of achieving a ceasefire is also increasing.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has repeatedly touted a plan to end the war immediately if he wins in November. The plan would involve ceding territory to Russia, though Trump has been minimal about the specifics of his proposal.

Trump will run alongside his vice presidential running mate, Senator J.D. Vance, who has reportedly been an even more vocal opponent of U.S. aid to Ukraine. He has openly supported territorial concessions as part of a potential peace deal.

What could a Kamala Harris presidency mean for Ukraine now that Biden is gone?

All eyes have been on Vice President Kamala Harris as the likely person to lead the Democratic ticket this fall, following US President Joe Biden’s announcement that he is withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race. If Harris is officially confirmed as the nominee to take on Republican Donald Trump, Harris’s…