Russians show growing support for ending war on Ukraine's terms
Almost one-third of Russians agree to return all territories occupied during the war that began in February 2022 to Ukraine in order to end the fighting, according to a survey conducted by the Levada Center.
The survey shows that 31% of respondents would support President Vladimir Putin's decision if he ends the war on Ukraine's terms. To clarify, Ukraine demands the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from all occupied territories.
Fourteen percent of Russians are "definitely" ready to support such a development, while another 17% stated they would "probably" support such a solution.
Russians show a willingness to "return" the territories in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, which Vladimir Putin illegally annexed to Russia in the fall of 2022.
Sixteen percent of those surveyed by Levada agree with Kyiv's stance that, in the name of peace, Russians should return the territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics. However, only 5% described this scenario as "preferred," while 11% found it "acceptable."
Dissatisfaction among Russians grows. War has brought "death and sorrow"
New research from the Levada Center indicates that as many as 47% of Russians believe that the invasion of Ukraine brings more negative consequences than positive ones. This is a significant increase compared to data from May 2023, when 41% of respondents gave such a response.
Meanwhile, the number of people convinced of the war's positive aspects has decreased—from 38% in May of the previous year to 28% currently.
The largest group of critics of the military actions consists of 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 survey showed that most of this group (52%) indicated the war brought "death, sorrow, and suffering to many people." Other reasons for dissatisfaction include losses among the Russian military (21%), problems for the civilian population (7%), and a deteriorating economic situation (18%), with rising prices and significant government spending on military actions.
The survey was conducted between September 26 and October 2 of this year on a representative sample of 1,606 people, including those aged 18 and over. Interviews were conducted in respondents' homes using face-to-face interview methods.
