Survey: Russians tired of war, most support peace

A record number of Russians support peace talks to end the war in Ukraine. According to a survey by the independent Levada Center, 67 per cent of respondents favour negotiations, while 24 per cent support continuing the war – the lowest figure since the invasion began in February 2022, Bloomberg reports.

The survey also points to growing fatigue in Russian society over the conflict. As many as 56 per cent of respondents said they follow the war only marginally or not at all.

According to the centre’s director, Denis Volkov, this suggests that many Russians want the conflict to end but prefer peace on terms favourable to Russia.

Despite the fatigue, support for the Russian army remains high. As many as 72 per cent of those surveyed said they back the army’s actions in Ukraine, and more than half consider the strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure justified. President Vladimir Putin’s popularity has declined slightly but still stands at around 82 per cent.

The nationwide survey was conducted from February 18 to 25, 2026, using a representative sample of 1,625 urban and rural residents aged 18 and older in 137 populated areas across 50 subjects of the Russian Federation.

(mja)