Ukrainians back Europe-aligned peace plan, dismiss Moscow’s terms
An overwhelming majority of Ukrainians oppose the “peace plan” put forward by Russia, according to a new poll from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) conducted between Sep. 2 and 14.
The survey found that 75% of respondents reject the Russian proposal, while only 17% said they would be willing to accept it.
KIIS gauged public opinion by presenting two condensed versions of competing proposals — one reflecting Russia's terms and the other aligning with Ukraine's and Europe's positions. Respondents were randomly presented with one of the two versions without knowing the source.
The Ukraine–Europe plan included:
- Reliable security guarantees from Europe and the United States, including a steady supply of weapons and funding, as well as closure of Ukraine’s airspace to Russian attacks
- A freeze of the current front line, with Russia retaining control of occupied territories, though Ukraine and the international community would not formally recognize it
- Continued progress toward European Union membership.
- Sanctions on Russia to remain in place until lasting peace is established and the threat of renewed aggression disappears.
By contrast, Russia’s “peace plan” called for:
- The lifting of all Western sanctions against Moscow
- Official status for the Russian language
- A significant reduction of Ukraine’s armed forces and limits on its weapons
- Ukraine’s permanent renunciation of NATO membership and an end to Western military aid
- Russia’s right to determine Ukraine’s security guarantees, positioning itself as one of the guarantor countries
- Ukrainian withdrawal from the parts of Donetsk Oblast still under Kyiv’s control, including Kramatorsk and Slovyansk
- Official recognition of Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts as part of Russia, with Ukraine permanently renouncing them
- Continued Russian control of occupied areas in Kherson and Zaporizhzhya oblasts.
For each version, respondents were asked three questions: how acceptable they found the plan, how successful or unsuccessful it would be for Ukraine, and whether they believed Russia would launch another attack under such conditions.
The poll showed that 74% of Ukrainians — though often "without enthusiasm," according to KIIS — said they were prepared to approve the Ukraine–Europe proposal. Only 15% opposed it outright.
Support for the Ukraine–Europe plan and rejection of Russia’s terms was consistent nationwide. Between 61% and 80% of respondents across all regions rejected Moscow’s proposal, while 72% to 77% expressed readiness to back the Ukraine–Europe plan.
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