44% of Ukrainians ready for peace talks, yet disapprove of Russian dictator’s terms – survey

According to recent polls, 44% of Ukrainians living in the rear feel that now is the appropriate moment to begin formal peace negotiations between their country and Russia. However, 35% of citizens hold a different perspective. Additionally, the majority of the survey participants do not support the terms put forth by the Russian dictator, Vladimir Putin. 

According to ZN.UA, the results of a study conducted by the Razumkov Center from June 20 to 28, 2024, show this.

The publication emphasizes that almost half (49%) of the residents of the center of Ukraine will calmly accept the information about the start of official negotiations with Russia. The West of Ukraine gave the lowest rate among those ready for talks – 35%.

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"And now it is important to note that, after all, it is not the West that does not want negotiations the most, but the East, which is attacked every day by Russian security forces. Only 33% of residents of Eastern Ukraine are ready for negotiations, and almost the same number (34%) are against them. And almost as many same (32%) of those who are undecided," ZN.UA writes.

The edition calls the number of southern Ukraine indicative. 60% of Southerners believe that the time for official negotiations with Russia has come, almost 16% higher than the average for Ukraine.

At the same time, most Ukrainians believe that it is unnecessary to agree to the conditions put forward by Vladimir Putin on the eve of the Peace Summit.

In particular, 83% of respondents do not agree with withdrawing Ukrainian troops from the territory of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions within their administrative borders.

84% of respondents are against giving these areas to the aggressor.

77% of Ukrainians cannot agree that all Western sanctions against Russia should be lifted.

Regarding the inclusion of Ukraine's neutral, non-aligned, non-nuclear status in the Constitution of Ukraine, there were differing opinions: 

• 58% were against;
• 22% were in favor.

The publication highlights that only 9% of Western Ukrainian residents favor changing the Constitution. The Center showed a 25% approval rate, while the East had 23%. In the southern region, where the majority supports the neutrality of Ukraine, 39% of residents are willing to support these changes.

When considering the age factor, individuals over 60 in the southern region tend to lean towards neutrality.

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ZN.UA notes that they interviewed people who represent the rear part of Ukraine.

"The main part of the passionate volunteers or those forced to join them are at the front. It is currently impossible to study the opinion of the army, which bears the entire burden of the war and has the right, if not the decisive, to be the most significant voice in the negotiations with Russia. Therefore, it is impossible to consider the study's results to be the whole country's opinion. This is the opinion of the rear," writes ZN.UA.

For reference:

Volodymyr Zelensky noted that currently, only one model of negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin is possible. To accomplish this, it is crucial to engage intermediaries who are involved in the grain corridor initiative.

For example, recently, the President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said that his country wants to become a mediator for a "just peace" between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

Zelensky also stated that Ukraine should develop a clear peace plan. It should be ready by the end of this year.

However, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's statements regarding the end of the war indicate that he does not want to agree to anything other than the destruction of Ukrainian statehood and identity.