KIIS poll: Overwhelming majority of Ukrainians still believe war will end with return of all territories

The overwhelming majority of Ukrainians - 65% - still believe that the war will end with the return of all territories, including Donbas and Crimea, to Ukrainian control. Indeed, 14% believe that the war will move to the territory of the Russian Federation. Nevertheless, In May 20223, 71% of respondents believed in the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity.

The survey also revealed an increase in the number of people who admit that the war may end with some territorial losses, from 25% in May 2022 to 32% in February 2024. Of this group, 19% believe that the war will end with the retention of the territories currently controlled by Ukraine, compared to only 6% in May 2022.

Since then, Ukraine has liberated a significant part of the territories, which means that the respondents in 2024 answered in a situation of a significantly different battlefield.

A further 9% believes that Ukraine will liberate the territories it controlled before the full-scale Russian invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, though not necessarily Crimea or Donbas.

The remaining 4% believe in the liberation of all territories, including Donbas, but not Crimea.