Now, polls show Ukrainians want peace talks with Russia. But red lines stand

As Ukraine concludes its third year of full-scale war with Russia, public opinion is shifting. Recent surveys indicate that, for the first time since the invasion began, most Ukrainians now favor negotiations to end the war over continuing to fight until victory. This change comes amid escalating Russian offensives and rapid territorial gains, insufficient Western military aid, and the profound strain of prolonged warfare on Ukrainian society.

With US President-elect Trump promising a swift resolution to the war, though the specifics of his approach remain unclear, and peace talks increasingly discussed both in Ukraine and abroad, understanding what Ukrainians really think—and why these views are changing—becomes crucial for any potential negotiations ahead.

Data shows the shift but nuances matter

Gallup’s latest polling data from late 2024 reveals a dramatic shift in Ukrainian public sentiment. While 73% of Ukrainians preferred fighting until victory in early 2022, and 63% maintained this stance in 2023, by late 2024, the numbers had reversed:52% now favor pursuing negotiations to end the war, while 38