Three quarters of Ukrainians don't want to give up Donbas, only nine percent want presidential elections

Ukraine, along with its European allies, is trying to water down the original US peace proposal, which includes conditions that Ukraine surrender the entire eastern Donbas region and significantly reduce its armed forces. European, Ukrainian and U.S. representatives continue talks on the issue in Berlin on Monday.

A poll by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) showed that 72 percent of Ukrainians would be willing to accept the deal that Kiev and Europe are trying to steer the negotiations toward - that is, a cease-fire along the current front line and some compromises on the Russian side as well.

At the same time, however, 75 percent of those polled consider a Russia-friendly plan that would involve ceding territory or limiting the size of the army without clear security guarantees to be "completely unacceptable."

The survey was conducted from late November to mid-December and included 547 respondents from Ukrainian-controlled territories.

Ukrainians are sceptical of U.S. support

KIIS Executive Director Anton Hrusheckyi said public opinion has remained stable in recent months despite growing pressure from the US.

Overall, 63 percent of Ukrainians are prepared to continue fighting as long as necessary, and only nine percent believe the war will end by the end of this year.

US President Donald Trump is pushing for a quick peace. He also argues that the Russian army is advancing on the battlefield.

Kiev and its European allies are demanding security guarantees from Washington as part of the deal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that Ukraine would give up its ambition to join NATO in exchange for them.

However, Ukrainians' trust in the U.S. has dropped from 41 percent to 21 percent year-on-year. Confidence in NATO fell from 43 to 34 percent.

"If the security guarantees are not clear and binding, Ukrainians will not trust them, which will affect their willingness to support the relevant peace plan," said Hrusheckyi.

Little support for elections during the war

Donald Trump has also reiterated his call for elections in Ukraine, which is forbidden during martial law. Zelensky indicated that he would be willing to hold them if the US took the lead in ensuring the vote was conducted safely.

However, according to the poll, only nine percent of Ukrainians want elections "right now." More than half of respondents (57 percent) said elections should be held only after a final peace agreement and a full end to the war.

Although confidence in Zelensky dropped after the corruption scandal at the state energy firm Enerhoatom last month, it has risen again to 61 percent following the imposition of sanctions on his former associate Timur Mindych and the resignation of the head of the president's office, Andriy Yermak. Zelensky is distrusted by 32 percent of respondents.

(reuters, est)