Reply To: Russian Tensions
I think it is reasonable to assume, ALB, that for Ukrainians living in Lviv and Western Ukraine, the loss of Crimea or the Donbas would be no great sacrifice if it brought them peace.
It would be merely acknowledging the de facto position of the last 10 years or so.
The Russians have done themselves no favours by extending their air-attacks.
In May 2022, 59 percent of survey respondents favoured negotiations with Russia, by January, the number had was 29 percent, with 66 percent opposing such talks.
Support for joining NATO with more than 80 percent in favour of it in all regions of the country so only 20 percent of respondents indicated they would support giving up on this goal for the sake of peace with Russia.
Nor is there any real appetite for war on the Russian side.
Over the last year, at least a third of Russians have consistently preferred talks over continued military operations. This share reached a peak of 44 percent in the fall of 2022 when Russian forces suffered a series of defeats in the southern and northern parts of Ukraine.
In a February survey, 40 percent of respondents said they would like to see Russian troops withdraw from Ukraine without achieving their goals. Even more, about two-thirds of respondents (66 percent) indicated that they would support the signing of a peace agreement and an end to the military campaign if such a decision came from Putin.
Both sides use the nationalist card but it can be overplayed.
As John Lennon said and the Chinese, Give Peace a Chance