60% of Ukrainians oppose ceding Donbas to Russia, but same share back freezing war with security guarantees, poll shows
According to the poll results, 33% of respondents said they would be willing to give up territory in eastern Ukraine, including Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.
Sixty percent of Ukrainians oppose giving up the Donbas region to Russia, with the same proportion ready to accept a ceasefire along the existing front line in exchange for security guarantees, a KIIS poll indicates. The survey, carried out amid stalled peace negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and international mediators, was released on August 7, 2026.
During the same period, Russian forces have maintained attacks across Ukraine, exacerbating the civilian casualty rate due to a shortage of anti-aircraft missiles. Of the 974 respondents, aged 18 or older, living in Ukrainian-controlled areas, 33% support relinquishing territory in eastern Ukraine, including Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, though many consider this a tough trade-off.
Another 7% are undecided. A freeze of the conflict in exchange for substantial funding and weaponry saw support from 59% of respondents, yet the majority did so grudgingly, with 31% strongly opposing the notion. The poll also revealed that most Ukrainians do not foresee the war's end in the immediate future; 45% believe it may conclude no earlier than mid-2027, while 21% anticipate a resolution by year-end.
An additional 15% remain uncertain about the timeline. Notably, the proportion of Ukrainians willing to endure the war indefinitely has increased to 61%, up from 48% in April 2026.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.