Almost two-thirds of Russians support peace talks on Ukraine, a poll finds

Support for peace negotiations on Ukraine is growing in Russia.

This is shown by a poll conducted by the independent Russian research company the Levada Center.

According to its nationwide survey carried out February 18–25, a majority of Russians (67%) said that the country should now move to peace talks. Compared with January, the share of such respondents rose by 6 percentage points, reaching a new high for this indicator. Support for negotiations is higher among young people under 25, women, and less well-off Russians.

At the same time, the share of those who believe the fighting should continue fell to about a quarter of respondents—24%—the lowest level recorded over the entire period of observation. Support for continuing military actions is higher in Moscow, among wealthier Russians, and among respondents over 55.

The number of those who do not follow the war, or follow it only a little, also reached a maximum—56%.

At the same time, most Russians continue to support Russia’s military actions in Ukraine: 72% approve of the army’s actions, and 57% support strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

The center surveyed 1,625 people aged 18+ in 137 населенных пунктах (localities) across Russia.

Earlier, media reported that polls in Ukraine show a growing number of supporters of giving up Donbas in exchange for peace. According to the latest data, about 40% of respondents hold this view.

Sociologists also say that demand for peace negotiations among Ukrainians is very high.