Russian troops on patrol in occupied Ukraine. Photo: EPA/EFE
A survey carried out by research company Russian Field in early November has revealed the highest proportion of respondents ever saying that they would support the beginning of peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv to end the war in Ukraine.
Some 54% of those surveyed said that they were in favour of peace talks, while another 36% said that they supported a continuation of hostilities, the lowest level of support yet recorded for the war among Russians.
Men were more or less equally divided between the two camps, with 43% in favour of continuing the war and 45% in favour of peace talks, as were those in older age groups, while 18–44 year olds were the group most in favour of ending hostilities.
Wealthier respondents and those who watched TV were more likely to support continuing the war than those on lower incomes, Russian Field found, with the latter predominantly favouring peace talks.
Some 40% of respondents said that they felt personally threatened by the war, of which 27% said they feared drone strikes, 20% cited concerns for the Russian economy, 18% said they feared shelling, 17% said they feared mobilisation, and 12% said they feared the injury or death of loved ones.
The study, which was conducted between 7–12 November, was carried out by cold calling 1,600 people from different regions of Russia.
The results of a similar survey conducted in Ukraine by research company Gallup were published on Tuesday, with its data showing that over the past year, the number of Ukrainians who thought the country should fight Russia until it withdrew from Ukrainian territory had halved.
The study, carried out between August and October, showed that 52% of respondents would like Kyiv to start peace negotiations with Russia as soon as possible, while 38% said Ukraine should fight until victory is attained. At the start of the war, 73% of Ukrainians said the country should fight until it achieved victory, whereas in 2023 that number had fallen to 63%.
