A recent survey revealed that 32 percent of Ukrainians would support a peace agreement, an increase from 19 percent last year. Ukrainian authorities have stated that they will not concede territory occupied by Russia in any future agreement. On his part, Trump has been skeptical about U.S. aid to Ukraine and has hinted at the possibility of ending the conflict quickly, without detailing how.
Vladimir Putin has tried to portray Ukraine as the intransigent party in peace talks, suggesting favorable conditions for Russia. According to a survey by the International Sociology Institute of Kiev, 32 percent of Ukrainians would support a peace agreement, compared to 19 percent the previous year. Andriy Zagorodnyuk, former Ukrainian Minister of Defense, mentioned that reaching a favorable agreement for Ukraine while Russia advances would be extremely complicated.
Kiev considers the occupied territory as a possible bargaining chip, while in Moscow it is seen as a prerequisite for starting negotiations. The talks focus on security guarantees and the location of a possible ceasefire. Distrust towards an agreement with Russia runs deep in Ukraine, which experienced bitter ceasefires in 2014 and 2015.
With Ukrainian forces losing ground, the importance of obtaining security guarantees is highlighted. Ukraine has proposed its "Peace Formula," demanding conditions such as total withdrawal and payment of reparations. Russia has shown opposition to some points of the plan, exacerbating the complexity of negotiations.
As support for territorial concessions for peace increases among Ukrainians, security emerges as the most delicate issue for a potential agreement. The intensification of debates following Trump's election has generated various perspectives and approaches, including the positions of China and Brazil. It is crucial to establish security guarantees in any forthcoming agreement for Ukraine.
