Most Ukrainians support ending the war and finding a compromise with Russia, but not on any terms – poll

Most Ukrainians support ending hostilities and finding a compromise with Russia through negotiations. At the same time, willingness to make possible territorial concessions depends on obtaining reliable security guarantees, and the final decision on such peace terms, in citizens' opinion, should be made at an all-Ukrainian referendum.

This is evidenced by the results of a poll by the sociological group Rating Group, conducted on October 3-5, 2026 and released on October 8.

According to the study, 57% of Ukrainians support ending hostilities and seeking a compromise in negotiations.

In contrast, 13% of respondents are in favor of continuing hostilities until the line of control as of February 23, 2022 is restored. Another 21% believe that it is necessary to fight until all territories of Donbas and Crimea are returned.

Separately, sociologists asked Ukrainians about the most realistic path to end the war. The majority of respondents chose diplomatic scenarios:

• 57% consider a compromise with the participation of other countries in negotiations as such a path;
• 26% support a scenario of direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.

At the same time, attitude towards negotiations does not mean society's readiness to agree to any terms for ending the war.

In particular, 56% of Ukrainians allow territorial concessions for long-term peace only on condition of security guarantees from the US and European partners. Such guarantees, according to the wording of the study, should include financing of the Ukrainian Defense Forces and supplying them with necessary weapons.

Against any territorial concessions are 35% of respondents. Only 3% are ready to consider them without preconditions, and 6% could not decide.

Thus, the main difference lies between readiness to discuss the territorial issue in the presence of international guarantees and consent to unconditional transfer of territories. The latter scenario is supported by a small share of respondents.

Most Ukrainians are also convinced that the final decision on possible territorial concessions should be made directly by the people.

When asked who should make such a decision in case of relevant peace agreements, 68% of respondents named an all-Ukrainian referendum.

Another 17% believe that the decision should be made by the President of Ukraine, and 9% by the Verkhovna Rada.

Rating Group notes that Ukrainians' attitude towards the necessity of a referendum has barely changed over the past year.

The study also recorded a divergence in attitudes towards the very concepts of peace and victory. Half of respondents (50%) chose the statement that peace is more important than any victory. At the same time, 41% believe that victory is more important than any peace, and 9% could not decide.

Sociologists point out that in recent months, against the background of intensified Russian shelling, the share of Ukrainians for whom victory is more important than peace has grown. At the same time, the majority of respondents do not see an advantage of either side in the current war: 62% answered so. 26% speak of Ukraine's advantage, 6% of Russia's.

Thus, the survey results indicate significant support for diplomatic ways to end the war, but issues of territories, security guarantees and the mechanism for approving possible agreements remain fundamental for Ukrainian society.

Earlier, another study by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology also showed that Ukrainians assess possible scenarios for ending the war differently. In particular, a significant share of respondents allowed a ceasefire along the current front line without legally recognizing occupied territories as Russian, but opposed withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the controlled part of Donbas.

The Rating Group poll was conducted on October 3-5 using the method of telephone interviews (CATI). The study involved 1000 adult respondents. The sample did not cover temporarily occupied territories and areas where Ukrainian mobile communication is unavailable. The stated statistical error does not exceed 3.1 percentage points.

Based on materials from: Rating Group