WASHINGTON ) — After over three years of relentless conflict, a growing number of Ukrainians now support pursuing a negotiated end to Russia’s invasion, according to a new Gallup poll released Thursday. However, only about one in four respondents believes active combat will cease within the next year.
This marks a significant shift from sentiments in 2022, the war's first year, when nearly 75% of Ukrainians were determined to fight until victory. That number has now dropped to just a quarter, with support for continued resistance declining across all regions and age groups.
The poll surveyed over 1,000 individuals aged 15 and older residing in Ukraine. Notably, areas under long-term Russian occupation—comprising roughly 10% of the population—were excluded due to access limitations post-2022. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, over 12,000 Ukrainian civilians have died from strikes in urban zones behind the front lines, according to UN data. Along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) battlefront stretching from northeast to southeast Ukraine, where tens of thousands of soldiers have fallen on both sides, Russia’s larger forces are gradually gaining territory. The poll’s release comes just ahead of President Donald Trump’s Friday ultimatum to Russia: halt the violence or face severe economic sanctions.
Conducted in early July, the survey found that nearly 70% of Ukrainians now advocate for immediate negotiations. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently reiterated his willingness to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, though Russia rejected the proposal, and major disagreements persist. Still, hopes for imminent peace remain low—only about a quarter of Ukrainians think it’s even “somewhat” likely that fighting will end within a year, while around 70% believe that outcome is improbable.
U.S. Image Declines Sharply, While Germany Gains Favor
Ukrainian approval of American leadership has plummeted in recent years, with only 16% expressing support in the latest poll—down from roughly 66% three years ago. This decline reflects growing tensions since Donald Trump assumed office in January. Although U.S. leadership approval stood at 40% in 2024, the downward trend began before Trump's presidency, potentially due to Republican criticism of U.S. financial support for Ukraine.
In contrast, Germany's reputation in Ukraine has steadily improved, now enjoying a 63% approval rating among Ukrainians.
Diminished Hope for NATO and EU Membership
Optimism surrounding Ukraine’s future integration into NATO and the European Union has notably decreased.
Only about one-third of Ukrainians now believe NATO membership will be achieved within the next decade. Another third expects the process to take over 10 years, while the remaining third doubts it will ever happen. This marks a sharp decline from 2022, when two-thirds of Ukrainians believed NATO entry would occur within 10 years, and just 10% thought it would never happen.
Expectations for joining the European Union remain higher but have also waned. Currently, 52% foresee EU membership within a decade—down from 73% in 2022.
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