Rising discontent: One‑third of Russians back Ukraine peace terms
Almost one-third of Russians agree to return all territories occupied during the war that began in February 2022 to Ukraine to end the fighting, according to a survey conducted by the Levada Center.
The survey shows that 31 percent of respondents would support President Vladimir Putin's decision if he ends the war on Kyiv's terms. Recall that Ukraine demands the complete withdrawal of Russian forces from all occupied territories.
14 percent of Russians are "definitely" ready to support such a development, while another 17 percent said they would "most likely" support such a solution.
Russians are first willing to "return" territories in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, which Vladimir Putin illegally annexed to Russia in the fall of 2022.
16 percent of those surveyed by the Levada Center agree with Kyiv that Russians should return the territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics in the name of peace. However, only 5 percent described this scenario as "preferred," and 11 percent described it as "acceptable."
Dissatisfaction among Russians is growing. The war has brought "death and sorrow"
New research from the Levada Center shows that 47 percent of Russians believe that the invasion of Ukraine is bringing more negative effects than positive. This is a significant increase compared to data from May 2023, when 41 percent of respondents gave such an answer.
At the same time, the number of people convinced of the positives of the war has decreased—from 38 percent in May last year to 28 percent now.
The largest portion of those who are critics of military actions are women, young people up to 24 years old, residents of small towns with populations up to 100,000, and those who believe the country is heading in the wrong direction.
The study showed that the majority of this group (52 percent) indicates that the war has brought "death, sorrow, and suffering to many people." Other reasons for dissatisfaction include losses in the Russian army (21 percent), problems for the civilian population (7 percent), and the worsening economic situation (18 percent), including rising prices and significant government expenses on military actions.
The survey was conducted between September 26 and October 2 on a representative sample of 1,606 people, including individuals aged 18 and older. The interviews were conducted in the respondents' homes using personal interview methods.
