32% of Ukrainians would drop NATO bid for peace: Survey
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According to the survey results, 23% are willing to give up the possibility of joining the EU "for the sake of achieving a ceasefire."
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People hold a huge Ukrainian flag as they attend a demonstration against Russia's war on Ukraine as they mark the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion in Berlin, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (AP)
Nearly one-third of Ukrainians are willing to forgo the prospect of joining NATO, while one in five would abandon the idea of European Union membership in exchange for peace, according to a survey conducted by the Socis research company. The results were published by the Strana news portal on Wednesday.
The survey, conducted from February 3-9 in Ukrainian-controlled areas and involving 2,000 adults, found that 32% of respondents are prepared to drop the pursuit of NATO membership. Additionally, 23% are willing to give up the possibility of joining the EU "for the sake of achieving a ceasefire."
The poll also revealed that 21.1% of participants are open to territorial concessions, while 13.7% support granting official status to the Russian language in certain regions. Another 3.5% indicated they would accept a reduction in military personnel.
The survey allowed respondents to select multiple options. However, 35% were unable to provide a definite answer.
Despite these concessions, support for joining the EU remains high. According to the same poll, 68.1% of Ukrainians would vote in favor of EU membership if a referendum were held soon, while 21% would oppose it, as reported by the NV newspaper.
Read more: Willing to resign if it would bring peace, NATO membership: Zelensky
Mineral deal
This comes in light of a recent minerals agreement between Ukraine and the United States, aimed at strengthening US-Ukrainian ties and potentially securing long-term security commitments. The deal involves the joint development of Ukraine's mineral resources, including oil and gas, and is seen as a strategic move to bolster Ukraine's economy amid ongoing conflict.
The agreement was negotiated after the US dropped its demand for a $500 billion share of revenue from mineral extraction, a condition that was initially controversial in Kyiv. The finalized deal establishes a fund where Ukraine will contribute 50% of revenues from future monetization of state-owned mineral resources, which will be invested in Ukrainian projects.
Ukrainian officials have portrayed the agreement as a way to strengthen relations with the US and support Ukraine’s long-term economic stability. However, the deal does not include current operations of Naftogaz or Ukrnafta, Ukraine's main gas and oil companies, ensuring that existing government revenues are unaffected.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to visit the White House soon for a signing ceremony with President Donald Trump, signaling closer US-Ukrainian cooperation amid the ongoing conflict.
