Russian support for the Ukraine war hits record low amid peace talks
According to the latest research by the Levada Center, support for continuing the war in Ukraine among Russians has dropped to a record low, as reported by the independent portal Moscow Times. The survey was conducted before the Ukrainian attack on Russian strategic bombers deep within the country.
Research conducted by the Levada Center shows that 28% of Russians support further military actions in Ukraine. This is the lowest since the conflict phase began in February 2022.
The number of people advocating for peace negotiations with Kyiv has increased to 64%. The rise in support is particularly noticeable among women (73%), young people under 24 (77%), and residents of rural areas and smaller towns (67%). Additionally, people dissatisfied with Vladimir Putin's policies (77%) are more likely to favor peace.
Conversely, support for continuing the war is higher among men (39%), individuals over 55 (35%), and residents of Moscow (40%). Among those satisfied with the country's direction, 32% support further military actions.
The majority of Russians (87%) support the idea of peace negotiations with Ukraine. However, 36% of respondents blame Ukraine and European countries for the lack of agreement, 14% point to the USA, and only 3% blame Vladimir Putin's regime.
Peace talks in Istanbul
The survey included 1,613 people from 50 regions of Russia. It was conducted between May 22 and 28, before Sunday's attack by Ukrainian drones on Russian strategic bomber bases at several locations deep within the Russian Federation, including Siberia.
The raids directly targeted aviation resources, including Tu-160, Tu-95, and Tu-22M3 bombers, which are considered less vulnerable to attacks than land and naval forces. Western experts are still assessing the effects of the raid, but one high-ranking official told Bloomberg that the damages were "significant."
On Monday, Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul commenced the second round of peace talks, but no breakthrough was achieved. Commentators note that there are no grounds to expect such progress, as the Russians are effectively demanding Ukrainian capitulation, and the situation on the front does not justify such demands.
The actions of the Russian Federation bear all the hallmarks of a stalling tactic designed to prolong the talks with Ukraine, comments Dr. Andrzej Szabaciuk from the Department of Political Theory and Eastern Studies at the Catholic University of Lublin and an analyst at the Central Europe Institute.
- The key reason for such a stance by Russia is to delay concluding peace talks indefinitely, thereby avoiding potential sanctions from the United States and the European Union, adds the expert.
According to Dr. Szabaciuk, although the action targeting bombers will not have a "real impact on the course of the conflict," it will positively boost the morale of the Ukrainian army and strengthen the belief among Ukraine's allies in the importance of continuing military and political support.
The economic situation in Russia
Meanwhile, Russia's economic situation, contrary to the Kremlin's official narrative, is worsening, according to unofficial reports.
What is specifically happening? The growth of wages for newly hired Russian workers is slowing down. In recent months, the country's economy has lost momentum. War-related expenses have been particularly felt by those living on the brink of poverty, as reported by The Financial Times recently.
Shortly after, the Moscow Times reported that the Russian economy is sharply slowing down. Russia's GDP in the first quarter of this year grew by just 1.4%, which is three times less than the growth rate at the end of 2024. Economists warned of a recession as the budget sinks into deficit and low oil prices hit the Kremlin's wallet.
