Poll: Most Ukrainians want peace, but not at any cost
Public opinion in Ukraine shows a growing consensus on the need for peace, but with the condition of preserving dignity. According to a recent sociological survey by the Institute of Social and Political Psychology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Association of Political Psychologists of Ukraine, 76.3% of respondents believe that Ukraine needs peace, but not at any cost. For comparison, in 2023, 66.6% shared this opinion.
Source: interfax
At the same time, 37% of respondents believe that “a small disgrace is better than a big war” – more than those who disagree with this statement (28.6%). A year earlier, these figures were 18.3% and 45.4%, respectively.
In the East of the country, half of the respondents (53.3%) share the thesis that a “small shame” is acceptable. In the central and southern regions, this figure is much lower – 28.7% and 30.2%, respectively.
Support for the idea of a “complete victory” – the return of all the occupied territories, including Donbas and Crimea – has dropped below 50% for the first time and amounts to 48.5% (in 2023 – 61.5%, in 2024 – 59.1%). The lowest number of supporters of this scenario is in the East (36.7%), the highest – in the West and South (over 60%).
Instead, a more compromise vision – the withdrawal of Russian troops from the territories seized after February 24, 2022, and the diplomatic return of Donbas and Crimea – is now supported by about 60% of Ukrainians. In 2023, the number was only 30.4%.
The share of those who understand mobilization evasion has also increased – 58.5% (compared to 54% in 2024). The number of those who feel ashamed of men who hide from mobilization is only 39%.
Despite the general trend toward demobilization of society, support for restoring Ukraine’s nuclear status is growing. In 2025, this idea is supported by 57.1% of respondents, the highest figure for all years of the survey.
The survey was conducted by face-to-face interviews on March 15-25, 2025 among 1,213 citizens aged 18 and older in the government-controlled territories of Ukraine. The statistical error is 3.2%.
