Growing number of Ukrainians favor territorial concessions to Russia for peace, survey reveals

In the initial months of the Russian invasion, from May 2022 to May 2023, the percentage of those supporting territorial concessions hovered around 8-10 percent. However, by October this year, it rose to 14 percent, and by December, it surged to 19 percent, marking a record high during the war, highlighted by Ukrainian Pravda.

The survey underscores a fast-growing pessimism, particularly in the western region of the country. The portion of people endorsing territorial concessions in this region has risen from 9 to 20 percent from October to December.

The highest number of supporters for such an arrangement - respectively, 24 and 21 percent - are seen in the most war-affected regions, the eastern and southern provinces of Ukraine. Conversely, in the central region, these supporters make up a mere 15 percent, as revealed in the analysis of the survey results.

The survey, conducted from November 29 to December 9, had 1031 respondents from regions across the country that remain under Kyiv authorities.

Several analysts suggest that given the limited success of the Ukrainian counter-offensive, ongoing since June in the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions, the decision of the US Congress - currently debating whether to approve a support package worth over $61 billion for Kyiv - could significantly influence the war's future.