As Ukrainians Grow More Weary, Giving up Land Becomes Less Unthinkable

European officials were dismissive when reports said in November that peace efforts led by the U.S. could see Ukraine giving up some of its territory to Russia. But now, polling suggests that a growing number of Ukrainians would themselves be willing to trade some land for peace.

The latest survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, conducted in late January, saw 40% of its 1,003 respondents say they were ready to “transfer the entire Donbas under Russian control in exchange for security guarantees.” (Although the report notes that “most” of these “admit that this is a difficult condition.”)

Just over half (52%)—a slight drop from earlier in the month—said they consider this option “categorically unacceptable.” Though it is worth noting that this figure might have been lower still had the respondents been asked about a partial—rather than a full—transference.

A further 7% said they were unsure.

Commenting on these results, The New York Times highlighted that while Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky has long stressed his opposition to a unilateral withdrawal from the Donbas, recently there has been a “notable shift” among the “war-weary Ukrainian population,” and that “what once seemed impossible now appears less so.” One woman who built a life in the eastern Ukrainian region told the paper:

For me, peace is the priority, and if there would definitely be no war after we give away the Donbas, I would be ready to leave.

These results were released while Ukrainian and Russian negotiators held what one Kyiv official described as “substantive and productive” U.S.-led peace talks in Abu Dhabi, “focused on concrete steps and practical solutions.” 

It is understood that Moscow continues to push its territorial demands.