Poll: When do Russians think the war in Ukraine will end. Strong support for peace negotiations
Red Square in Moscow. Photo: Dmitry Yagodkin / Zuma Press / Profimedia
The majority of Russians expect the war in Ukraine to end in 2026, a survey conducted by the state institute VTsIOM revealed on Wednesday, a sign that the Kremlin could test the public's reaction to a possible peace agreement, in the context in which diplomatic efforts in this regard are intensifying, reports Reuters, taken over by Agerpres.
During the presentation of the survey results, the deputy head of the VTsIOM, Mihail Mamonov, said that 70% of the 1,600 respondents see 2026 as a more “successful” year than this year, while 55% link this hope to an end to the so-called “special military operations” in Ukraine.
“The main reason for optimism is the possible conclusion of the special military operation and the achievement of the proposed objectives, in line with the national interests presented by the president”, Mamonov also stated in his presentation.
In previous year-end polls, VTsIOM highlighted the consolidation of Russian society around President Vladimir Putin and his military objectives in Ukraine, but did not provide figures on the proportion of the population expecting an end to the war, Reuters notes.
Mamonov cited the Russian offensive in Ukraine, US reluctance to finance Ukraine and the EU's inability to replace the US financially and militarily as the main factors behind the prospects for an eventual peace deal. At the end of military hostilities, he added, the reintegration of veterans into society and the reconstruction of the Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine, as well as the Russian border regions, are perceived as the main priorities.
About two-thirds of Russians support the peace talks, the highest proportion since the start of the war, according to the independent Levada Institute, which has been classified as a “foreign agent” under Russian law.
The Kremlin announced on Wednesday that Vladimir Putin has been briefed on “official” contacts with Donald Trump's envoys on American proposals for a possible peace deal in Ukraine and that Moscow will now formulate its position.
Russia does not agree with the 20-point peace plan proposed by Ukraine and the US / What changes does Moscow want
Putin has stated in recent weeks that his main conditions for peace are for Ukraine to cede approximately 5,000 square kilometers of Donbas that it still controls and for Kiev to officially renounce its desire to join NATO.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared on December 22 that the negotiations with the US and European states to end the war with Russia are “very close to a real result”.
