As President Trump gears up for a meeting later this week with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss possible resolutions to Putin’s war against Ukraine, the Ukrainian people are increasingly supportive of a negotiated settlement to end the war, according to a new Gallup study. When given a choice between a negotiated settlement and fighting until victory is achieved, there has been an almost complete reversal in sentiment since Russia attacked its neighbor in 2022.
At the beginning of the war, 73% of Ukrainians believed in fighting until Russia retreated, with 22% saying Ukraine should negotiate an ending to the war as soon as possible. In aggregated data from the most recent surveys, 69% want a negotiated settlement, with 24% believing Ukraine should keep fighting.
Even though the survey didn’t ask what the terms of negotiations should be, many observers believe that NATO membership for Ukraine and land exchanges are options that should be on the table. Regardless, the vast majority of Ukrainians have lost faith in U.S. leadership to bring about a lasting peace.
In 2022, two-thirds (66%) approved of U.S. leadership in the situation. This year, that rate has plummeted to just 16%. Although most Ukrainians (70%) do see a role for the U.S. in peace negotiations, more (75%) see the European Union’s role as vital.
The three-year war has eroded Ukrainians’ hope of becoming a part of NATO. In 2022, 64% of respondents expected Ukraine to be accepted into the alliance within ten years, with that rate rising to 69% a year after the beginning of the war in 2023. This year, only 32% see NATO membership in Ukraine’s near future.
Respondents also have little hope for an impending end to the war, with 68% saying it is unlikely the fighting will end within the next year.
More information on the Gallup study can be found here.
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