Vast majority of Ukrainians against any territorial concessions in exchange for peace Survey results

No territorial concessions are acceptable for 84 per cent of Ukrainians.

Only 10 per cent of respondents think that Ukraine may refuse from some territories to achieve peace and maintain independence, RBC-Ukraine reports with reference to the survey results of the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) as of July 2022.

The population’s views were not greatly changed compared to May 2022.

The absolute majority of the population in all Ukrainian regions is against any territorial concessions.

Some 77 per cent among the inhabitants of eastern Ukraine, who suffer from intensive hostilities, are against concessions (only 16 per cent are ready for concessions) while among the inhabitants of southern Ukraine – 82 per cent are against concessions (only 10 per cent are ready for them).

Sociologists note that more people in eastern Ukraine are against any concessions. The number of such respondents increased from 68 per cent to 77 per cent from May through July 2022. There were no great changes in other regions.

Only 17 per cent among the respondents who lived in the territory before February 24, 2022, which was occupied after February 24, 2022, and who left the territory controlled by the Ukrainian government stand for territorial concessions while 82 per cent think that there should be no territorial concessions.

Some 76 per cent among Russian-speaking Ukrainians are against territorial concessions (14 per cent stand for territorial concessions). Among the Russian-speaking Russians, the overwhelming majority – 68 per cent oppose any concessions (19 per cent stand for any concessions).

“Proceeding from the survey results, despite the possible fatigue, complications in the social and economic situation, intensive hostilities and terrorist attacks, Ukrainians think that no concessions should be made to the aggressor. If the goal of terror by shelling is to frighten Ukrainians and force them to peace, then we can see another failure of Russia and another evidence of a total misunderstanding of Ukrainian society,” KIIS sociologist Anton Grushevsky said.

He said that the results of the survey show that there is a consensus regarding the impossibility of concessions among people of all regions and among various linguistic and ethnic categories.

“Although Russia (and irresponsible Ukrainian politicians, “journalists” and “experts”) tried to impose a “split” in Ukrainian society along various lines, people in western, eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian-speaking residents, Russian-speaking residents, ethnic Ukrainians, ethnic Russians have a common view on the impossibility of territorial concessions to the aggressor,” he added.

The Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) conducted its own survey on July 6-20, 2022 among 2,000 respondents. The survey was not conducted in Crimea and Donbas occupied by Russia, as well as among citizens who went abroad after February 24, 2022.

Earlier, the Ukrainians disclosed the only acceptable option for establishing peace. Ukraine should return the territory under its control until 2014, including the entire Donbas and Crimea.

Some 73 per cent of Ukrainians consider this option of establishing peace as acceptable, 16 per cent - rather acceptable, three per cent - unacceptable, and four per cent - rather unacceptable.