Over half of Ukrainians worry Trump push for peace may be unfair: Poll
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While the US and Ukraine engage in discussions regarding resource-sharing and investment control, Ukrainians feel that a US-brokered peace deal could end up being unjust to Kiev.
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US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on Monday, March 31, 2025. (AP)
More than 50% of Ukrainians are critical of Trump's push towards a peace deal in Ukraine, according to a Ukrainian pollster on Tuesday.
Trump vowed to bring peace to Ukraine, however, Ukrainians are fearful that the deal the US President could herald could be partly unfair, or even outright unjust on Kiev.
The Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) said that 32% out of 1,326 respondents expected an "unjust peace with the fulfillment of some of Ukraine's demands," while 22% expected a completely unjust peace deal, and KIIS reported that, in December, 20% of those surveyed predicted a 'somewhat unjust peace,' with another 11% expecting a fully unjust result.
Just 3% thought Trump could achieve a fully just peace, while 15% anticipated a "fairly just peace," albeit with some concessions to Russia, KIIS added.
"Even before 2025, there was some disappointment with the US actions in Ukraine, and the Trump administration is quite decisively cementing the disapproval of the US," Anton Hrushetskyi, executive director of the KIIS said in a statement.
According to KIIS, 67% of Ukrainians think the US is growing weary of supporting Ukraine and pushing it to make compromises.
US-Ukraine resource deal sparks sovereignty fears
The poll comes amid increasing controversy surrounding a draft US-Ukraine economic agreement, which has drawn criticism from Ukrainian lawmakers and EU officials.
The draft deal, leaked earlier this week, proposes the creation of a US-controlled investment fund—registered in Delaware and operating under New York law—that would oversee Ukraine's oil, gas, mineral, and infrastructure sectors.
Critics, including Ukrainian lawmakers and EU officials, warn the arrangement could compromise Ukraine's sovereignty and limit future European investment. Under the current terms, the US would claim all revenues until Ukraine repays a $100 billion debt, plus 4% interest, after which profits would be shared.
Reuters and The Times report that the US has sought exclusive investment rights in key Ukrainian industries, sparking concerns among EU officials. They worry that such preferential terms could conflict with Ukraine’s EU membership ambitions, given the bloc’s strict competition rules.
Meanwhile, the deal does not seem to provide Ukraine with concrete security guarantees in exchange.
