Majority of Ukrainians are ready to make serious concessions to Russia and DPR and LPR leaders in exchange for establishment of peace
51% Ukrainians are willing to seek compromise in order to establish peace with Russia and self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republic.
This is highlighted by the public opinion poll conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation together with Kyiv International Institute of Sociology during September 12-21, 2014.
28% of respondents want to have peace at any cost, while 23% are ready to make serious concessions. At the same time, 40% are generally not willing to compromise: 16% can’t agree to any concessions, while 24% are ready to make only minor concessions.
Opinions on the level of compromise that could be made in exchange for peace and complete ceasefire in Donbas vary considerably among different regions of Ukraine. Any concessions are acceptable for 55% of population in Donbas, 40% – in the East, and 31% – in the South. Only 11% of Western Ukrainians and 17% of Central Ukrainians have such opinion.
Extending power of local authorities turned out to be the most widely accepted compromise. 38% Ukrainians agree with that, and its level of support is rather high in all regions: 41% in the South, 34% in the West, 32% in the East, 31% in the Center, and 22.5% in Donbas.
Pulling out of Ukrainian troops from Donetsk and Luhansk regions was supported by 54% of respondents in Donbas, but is not embraced in all regions. Only 4% and 7% agreed with it in Western and Central regions, respectively, while in the South it was accepted by 19% of respondents and in the East – by 30%.
The public opinion poll was conducted in 110 settlements in all regions of Ukraine, except the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Luhansk region. The polling work in Luhansk region was hampered by the military actions. In order to compensate for this shortage, the quota of Donetsk region, public opinion in which is in many regards similar to that in Luhansk region, was enlarged. Totally, 2035 respondents were interviewed. Statistical error of the sample does not exceed 2.2%.
Currently, negotiations on ways of resolving conflict in Donbas are being held. In your opinion, is it necessary to make concessions to Russia and leaders of self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics?
Peace should be reached at any cost, we need to accept any compromises | 27,8 |
In order to have peace, we could agree to serious compromises, but not to all of them | 22,6 |
We could agree to some compromises, but not to serious concessions | 24,3 |
No concessions should be made, even if this means continuing fighting | 15,8 |
Difficult to say | 9,5 |
Currently, negotiations on ways of resolving conflict in Donbas are being held. In your opinion, is it necessary to make concessions to Russia and leaders of self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics?
| West | Center | South | East | Donbas |
Peace should be reached at any cost, we need to accept any compromises | 10,7 | 17,4 | 30,8 | 40,0 | 55,3 |
In order to have peace, we could agree to serious compromises, but not to all of them | 22,4 | 20,5 | 28,0 | 22,9 | 24,0 |
We could agree to some compromises, but not to serious concessions | 34,8 | 28,1 | 18,5 | 16,8 | 14,4 |
No concessions should be made, even if this means continuing fighting | 23,4 | 17,2 | 13,3 | 15,5 | 5,1 |
Difficult to say | 8,6 | 16,8 | 9,5 | 4,8 | 1,2 |
If you agree that it is possible to make concessions in order to reach peace, which exactly concessions do you mean? SEVERAL ANSWERS COULD BE CHOSEN
| West | Center | South | East | Donbas |
Secession of Donbas (DPR and LPR) from Ukraine | 2,4 | 2,4 | 9,0 | 11,7 | 22,6 |
Official recognition of DPR and LPR leaders as legitimate authorities in Donetsk and Luhansk regions | 0,5 | 1,7 | 10,4 | 5,3 | 15,4 |
Granting Donetsk and Luhansk regions a special autonomous status inside Ukraine | 4,5 | 12,2 | 20,9 | 12,8 | 34,6 |
Federalization of Ukraine | 0,5 | 2,4 | 8,1 | 11,4 | 18,9 |
Withdrawal of Ukraine’s Armed Forces from Donetsk and Luhansk regions | 4,3 | 7,2 | 19,4 | 29,8 | 54,2 |
Extending powers of local authorities | 34,4 | 30,8 | 41,4 | 32,4 | 22,5 |
Granting Russian language a status of second official language | 7,9 | 11,4 | 32,2 | 24,7 | 29,7 |
Amnesty for all of those who took part in military actions in Donbas | 1,4 | 2,2 | 6,6 | 8,0 | 8,1 |
Amnesty for those who took part in military actions in Donbas, but was not involved in criminal activity | 16,9 | 13,1 | 25,6 | 8,2 | 15,6 |
Abandoning efforts to join the EU | 0,0 | 1,1 | 8,5 | 8,8 | 10,5 |
Abandoning efforts to join NATO and introducing non-aligned status into the Constitution | 0,7 | 3,2 | 14,3 | 8,8 | 23,7 |
Other | 0,7 | 1,0 | 0,5 | 0,0 | 1,2 |
None of these concessions are acceptable | 7,2 | 6,2 | 3,3 | 2,4 | 0,3 |
Difficult to say | 22,9 | 29,7 | 11,8 |
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