Ukrainian society has changed.
According to a report by Russian media on October 8, a survey conducted by the Ukrainian research group "Rating" shows that more than half of Ukrainians are willing to make territorial concessions to end the conflict with Russia, while 35% oppose such concessions. A January survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology also revealed that support for territorial compromise among Ukrainians has risen from 10% in 2022 to 33%, doubling over the past two years.
The two surveys indicate a significant shift within Ukrainian society on the issue of territory. This transformation reflects the harsh realities of a war that has persisted for nearly four years. The frontlines remain stagnant, military recruitment is dwindling, the economy is collapsing, critical infrastructure is destroyed, and millions have been displaced. While Western military aid continues, it has failed to alter the strategic situation. With Donald Trump's return to the White House, pressure on Ukraine to engage in negotiations has intensified. The public’s fading illusion of military victory is increasingly being replaced by a growing desire for peace, outweighing attachment to territorial integrity.
The Zelenskyy government maintains its official stance of “no territorial concessions,” but this position is losing traction among the population. Should the war continue to drag on, willingness to compromise is likely to grow stronger. Russia currently controls vast swaths of Ukrainian territory, and Ukraine lacks the capacity to reclaim all of it. Negotiated settlement may now be the only viable path forward.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1878496871139328/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.