Russians increasingly favor peace talks over continued conflict
The percentage of Russians supporting the immediate start of negotiations with Ukraine has, for the first time since the beginning of the war, exceeded half of the population, according to a November survey conducted by Russian Field.
11:33 AM EST, November 22, 2024
According to sociologists, as many as 53% of respondents supported transitioning to the negotiation process, while the percentage of those who wanted to continue military actions fell to 36%.
The highest result since the beginning of the research
"The percentage of supporters of continued military operations has reached its lowest level, and the percentage of supporters of negotiations has reached its highest level in the entire observation period," writes Russian Field. For comparison, in February, 49% wanted negotiations, and 40% wanted war. By the summer of 2023, the 'war party' in society outnumbered the 'peace party.'
Sociologists recorded the highest percentage of supporters of military actions at the very beginning of the invasion: 54% in April and May 2022. Since then, this indicator has been systematically decreasing.
Willingness to accept Vladimir Putin's decision to end the war and start negotiations was expressed by 79% of respondents. This is also a record for the entire research period—13 percentage points higher than in the summer of 2023.
Most Russians (63%) still believe the war is going "successfully" for the Russian army, which managed to seize one-fifth of Ukraine's territory. However, compared to the summer, the public's faith in the armed forces has diminished: in June, a record 69% of Russians spoke of "successes" at the front.
Russians fear for their safety
According to the survey results, drone attacks, which have become a daily occurrence by paralyzing airport operations and shelling border areas, along with initiated attacks deep into Russia using Western weaponry, have increased the sense of threat to personal safety in society. Forty percent of respondents declared that they "feel personally threatened." Compared to last summer, their percentage increased by 4 percentage points.
"Respondents most often fear drone attacks," notes Russian Field: 27% of survey participants chose this answer. Another 18% indicated that they fear "shelling" and "arrivals," 17% fear mobilization, and 12% fear the death or injury of loved ones.
The most aggressive portion of the 'war party' remains retirees who get their information from state television channels. Respondents of the older generation are more likely than others to oppose a ceasefire agreement, call military actions "successful," and claim that the country is "heading in the right direction."
Russian Field is an independent research group from Russia specializing in socio-political and marketing analyses. The organization conducts both quantitative and qualitative studies, providing comprehensive analyses of social moods, political preferences, and market trends. In addition to research activities, Russian Field is involved in education, organizing lectures and courses with the participation of recognized experts in the fields of sociology and political science.
