An overwhelming majority of Ukrainians remain committed to resisting Russia’s invasion and reject Moscow’s latest peace proposals, even as many recognise that the war is unlikely to end soon, according to a new survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS).

The poll, conducted between September 2 and 14 among 1,023 respondents in government-controlled areas, found that 76% of Ukrainians believe victory over Russia is possible if Kyiv continues to receive sufficient Western support in the form of sanctions, weapons and financial aid. Only 18% expect peace to be achieved in 2025, while nearly half believe the conflict will drag on until 2026 or later.

Moscow’s latest plan, which includes the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donbas and recognition of Russian control over occupied territories, was rejected outright by 75% of respondents. Just 17% said they would accept such terms, even with reservations. 65% said implementing such a deal would mark a failure for Ukraine, and 69% feared it would encourage Russia to attack again.

By contrast, 74% of Ukrainians said they would support – albeit reluctantly – a settlement that freezes the conflict along the current front line without legal recognition of territorial losses, if it came with security guarantees for Ukraine. Only 30% would view such an arrangement as a success, while 44% saw it as a mixed outcome. A majority, 56%, still expected Russia to resume hostilities in the future even under that scenario.

The survey highlighted strong willingness among Ukrainians to continue resisting. KIIS reported that 54% of adults not currently serving in the military were ready to join the Defence Forces if needed, including 63% of men and 46% of women. While 23% declared themselves “definitely ready,” another 31% said they were “rather ready.” Roughly 38% said they were not prepared to take up arms.

The findings suggest that while Ukrainians are open to pragmatic compromises, most remain wary of Moscow’s intentions and pessimistic about the prospects for a swift resolution.

Hungary, a member of the EU, has consistently opposed Kyiv’s accelerated accession to the bloc, arguing it would damage Europe’s economy and risk direct conflict with Russia. Ukrainian leaders, meanwhile, have insisted that EU membership and continued Western military assistance are essential to withstand Russian aggression and prevent further escalation.

Public opinion strongly favours maintaining ties with Western partners: 76% of respondents said Ukraine should continue resisting even if US aid were cut, relying instead on support from European allies. That figure has dipped slightly since March 2025, when it stood at 82%, but remains high.

KIIS noted that war conditions make polling difficult, and while the margin of error for the survey is formally around 4.1%, systematic deviations cannot be excluded. For specific questions on peace plan scenarios, the margin of error was estimated at no more than 5.8%.

Despite the strain of a conflict now in its fourth year, Ukrainians appear to retain both resilience and scepticism. The survey indicates broad rejection of concessions that would undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty, coupled with cautious backing for temporary freezes if tied to credible guarantees.

“Ukrainians remain determined to fight for their independence, even as they face tough choices about the future,” KIIS concluded.