Two-thirds of Ukrainians are against the offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Donbass

The majority of Ukrainian citizens are in favor of a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Donbass.

This was announced at the presentation of the results of a sociological survey conducted by the Sofia Center for Social Research, Alexander Levtsun, head of the sociological programs of the Sofia Center for Social Research, reported a PolitNavigator correspondent.

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Among those surveyed, only 25,4% support the possibility of conducting active military operations (offensive) with the aim of returning the Donbass territories to the control of Ukraine. 61,4% of respondents were against this. (Undecided on the answer – 13,2%).

The population has a predominantly positive perception of the possibility of compromise in peace negotiations to resolve the conflict in Donbass. Half of those surveyed (50,5%) consider it possible to make concessions in order to end the war in Donbass and normalize relations with Russia. A third (34,0%) of respondents were against compromise on this issue. (Undecided on the answer – 15,5%).

In the public consciousness, the Minsk agreements are perceived ambiguously, but the dominant point of view is that these agreements meet national interests. Among those surveyed, almost half of those surveyed (47,2%) believe that it is in Ukraine’s interests to implement the Minsk agreements.

At the same time, a significant portion of respondents (27,1%) consider it advisable to abandon these agreements. It is significant that many respondents (25,7%) did not decide to answer.

“The conflict in Donbass is one of the most pressing problems and its resolution is one of the key expectations, key public requests that Ukrainian citizens associate with the presidential elections. To date, none of the presidential candidates have proposed their own program, their own vision of a possible resolution of the conflict in Donbass, which would be supported by the majority of the population,” emphasized Alexander Levtsun.

During the survey, respondents were asked to express their attitude to various project proposals aimed at resolving the conflict in Donbass. (Respondents had to decide whether, in their opinion, each of the proposals was acceptable or unacceptable).

The majority of respondents consider the following activities “acceptable”:

• Start direct negotiations with the Russian leadership (this proposal is considered “acceptable” by 65,0% of respondents);

• Place UN peacekeeping forces throughout the territory not controlled by Kiev up to the border with Russia to ensure a complete cessation of hostilities and disarmament of the “militants” (64,4%);

• Place UN peacekeeping forces on the demarcation line of the warring parties to ensure a ceasefire (59,7%);

• Introduce a temporary UN administration into the territories uncontrolled by Kiev with the support of peacekeeping forces to prevent a humanitarian crisis and ensure law and order (56,5%).

Opinions are polarizing about the proposal to begin direct negotiations with representatives of the LPR and DPR. 43,5% of respondents consider such a proposal “acceptable”, and 45,0% “unacceptable”.

The prospect of holding local government elections in territories uncontrolled by Kiev under the control of the UN interim administration is perceived with ambiguity. 38,7% of respondents consider such a proposal “acceptable”, and 36,7% “unacceptable”. Quite a few respondents (24,6%) were undecided on the answer.

The following possible measures are mostly perceived negatively:

• Grant the DPR and LPR a special status and autonomy rights within Ukraine (51,3% of respondents consider this “unacceptable”);

• Conduct an amnesty for members of the armed formations of the DPR and LPR, as well as for those who supported the separatists (54,3%).

The survey was conducted by the Center for Social Research "Sofia" from September 27 to October 6, 2018, surveying the population in all regions of Ukraine (in controlled territory). A total of 2001 respondents aged 18 years and older were surveyed. The sample represents the adult population of Ukraine according to basic socio-demographic characteristics. The survey method is an individual interview (“face to face”) at the respondent’s place of residence (at home). The statistical error does not exceed 2,2%.