75% of Ukrainians Open to Peace Talks with Russia, New Poll Finds

Three quarters of Ukrainians say they would not rule out peace talks with Russia to end the ongoing war, according to a new survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KMIS) conducted between September 12 and 21, 2026. The results represent a notable shift in public sentiment compared to a similar survey from February 2025.

What the Numbers Show

When asked "Do you allow or not allow peace negotiations with Russia right now to end the war?", 75% of respondents answered that they would allow such talks. 21% said they would not, and 4% were undecided. Sociologists at KMIS are careful to draw a clear distinction: willingness to talk does not equate to readiness to make concessions on Ukrainian territory.

Compared to February 2025, the share of Ukrainians open to negotiations has increased significantly. Experts attribute this trend to war fatigue, continued casualties, and international pressure toward a diplomatic solution.

Context: Negotiations Without Capitulation

Ukrainian officials have consistently maintained that any negotiations must preserve Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The KMIS note accompanying the poll emphasizes that this reading is in line with what respondents themselves mean — they want talks, not surrender. The survey was conducted across all regions of Ukraine under Kyiv's control, with a sample representative of the adult population.