Half of Ukrainians willing to protest against unacceptable concessions to Russia – survey

A survey has found that 51.4% of Ukrainians have said they will be prepared to take part in protests if Ukraine makes unacceptable concessions during peace negotiations.

Source: survey conducted by Info Sapiens for the New Europe Centre, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The survey has found that 44.3% of respondents said they are not willing to join protests, while 4.4% are undecided.

The research also shows how attitudes towards potential concessions have shifted in recent years.

A temporary renunciation of the occupied territories is considered absolutely unacceptable by 40.2% of Ukrainians. A year ago, 53.2% held this view, and two years ago, the number stood at 76.2%. However, only 5.1% of Ukrainians consider this concession entirely acceptable.

Even fewer – just 2% of Ukrainians – are prepared to accept the legal recognition of the occupied territories as Russian. A total of 76.6% are categorically opposed to this.

The percentage of Ukrainians who consider the abandoning of NATO aspirations absolutely unacceptable is gradually decreasing – now 41.1% hold this view (48.7% a year ago, and 56.9% two years ago).

Refusing to join the EU appears absolutely unacceptable to 51% of Ukrainians, which is even slightly higher than last year's figure (50.7%).

Over the past year, the number of Ukrainians who consider reducing the size of the armed forces absolutely unacceptable has also increased (77.9% compared with 74.5%), as has the number who find granting Russian the status of a second state language completely unacceptable (73% compared with 70.9%).

Meanwhile, the share of Ukrainians who consider certain concessions absolutely unacceptable is decreasing: reducing the amount of reparations from Russia (58.7% compared with 62.2%), refusing to prosecute Russian leaders and war criminals (65% compared with 68.4%), and lifting sanctions (64.1% compared with 64.8%).

The study was conducted between 5 and 26 November 2025. The survey sample consisted of 1,000 respondents.

Background:

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he plans to speak with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who met Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on 2 December to discuss ending the war.
• Commenting on these talks, Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said she is concerned that during peace negotiations involving the US and Russia the main pressure will be placed on Ukraine, with the aim of forcing it into making concessions.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!