Janice R. Andrews
According to a recent study, there has been a notable movement in public opinion, with a considerable proportion of Ukrainians believing that peace negotiations with Russia are warranted. They are adamant, meanwhile, that no peace agreement should be based on Russia’s demands. This development occurs in the midst of a protracted conflict that has caused uncertainty and division in Ukrainian society.
Shifting Views Regarding Peace Negotiations
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has repeatedly objected to talks with Russia under its current leadership, even going so far as to issue an executive order banning conversations with President Vladimir Putin. In spite of this, there is increasing talk in Ukraine of peace talks. Potentially changing course, Zelenskyy has said that Russian delegates ought to be present at the second “peace summit” that Ukraine is organizing for November.
Survey Findings Point to a Divided Society
The opinions of the moment are revealed by a survey that the Ukrainian think tank Razumkov Center performed for the online publication Dzerkalo Tyzhnia (zn.ua). According to the results, 44% of Ukrainians living in places that are behind the front lines think it’s time for Moscow and Kyiv to hold formal negotiations. In contrast, 21% are still unsure and 35% are against beginning peace negotiations.
The poll also shows that the majority of Ukrainians are opposed to agreeing to Putin’s demands in order to end the conflict. Approximately 84% of respondents are against giving these territories to Russia, and nearly 83% oppose pulling Ukrainian soldiers out of areas of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia regions that are not under Russian control. Moreover, 77% oppose the removal of all Western sanctions against Russia.
Uncertainty Regarding Ukraine’s Neutral Status
There is less consensus about Ukraine’s adoption of a neutral, non-aligned, and nuclear-free posture. 22% of respondents support such a status, compared to roughly 58% who are against it. This ambivalence is a reflection of how divided and complex public opinion is in areas under Kyiv’s control.
Prerequisites for Harmony
The poll also explores the minimal requirements that Ukrainians see as necessary to reach a peace agreement with Russia. More over half of the respondents think that Ukraine needs to be freed from Russian occupation forces and given back its boundaries from 1991. Nonetheless, a significant 46% of Ukrainians believe that avoiding conscription is not shameful, compared to only 29% who disagree and 25% who are unsure.
These replies, according to political scientist and National Platform for Resilience and Social Cohesion co-founder Oleh Saakyan, are an indication of the populace’s dissatisfaction. He points out that earlier attempts to organize and bring the populace together were predicated on the idea of a brief conflict. People no longer have a clear idea of how they would survive in a state of perpetual war as a result of the protracted warfare.
Issues with Corruption and Governance
According to Saakyan, there is a growing concern among Ukrainians regarding matters that were put off “until after the war,” such dealing with nepotism, corruption, and inefficiencies in the government. These unsolved issues are weighing heavily on the minds of the population as the battle continues.
He continues by saying that the continued fighting has raised awareness of problems with energy, economic concerns, power abuse, and mobilization. Despite their hunger for triumph, many Ukrainians are still unsure of how to get there.
Doubt Regarding Territorial Boundaries
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv’s Ihor Reiterovich notes that President Zelenskyy has mostly stopped citing the borders of 1991 as a requirement for peace in recent months. There is now more misunderstanding in Ukrainian society as a result of this omission. Even while most people want all areas returned, there is ambivalence in the public’s feeling, as evidenced by the differing views on conscientious objection.
Open Communication Is Needed
Reiterovich and other experts advise the Ukrainian administration to hold open discussions with the public in order to win support for its initiatives. As many people as possible would be involved in the decision-making process and a vision for living under war conditions would be developed as a result of this discourse.
The Razumkov Center’s Mykhaylo Mishchenko emphasizes how crucial it is to keep an eye on public sentiment and understand dynamics in order to be ready for obstacles. According to him, in order for the administration to develop specific alternatives for the future and get ready for the second “peace summit” with a clear agenda, surveys such as the one carried out by the Razumkov Center are essential.
The demand for peace talks with Russia is becoming more and more vocal as Ukraine manages the difficulties of a protracted conflict. Although there are many obstacles and unknowns on the road to peace, the opinions of the Ukrainian people and the knowledge of specialists emphasize the necessity of a well-thought-out strategy. Any prospective peace negotiations will need to be successful if the public is involved in conversation and their issues are addressed.
