Polls Show Russians Want an End to War, on Russia's Terms

Polls in Russia show a growing number of people want the war in Ukraine to be over, but most of them say it should end only on Russia's terms, according to The New York Times, which published an article on the subject on October 23, 2026.

The answer depends heavily on how a question is asked. In September 2026, 27% of Russians supported continuing the war, according to a RussiaMatters blog post published in October. Earlier that month, as Reuters reported on September 18, some opinion polls showed public support for peace talks had risen above 60%.

Polling by the Levada Center, an independent Russian pollster, has also tracked attention to the conflict. In January 2026, fewer than half of its respondents said they followed the situation around Ukraine, the lowest level the organisation recorded during the period it tracked. Levada's later survey found that more than half of respondents said that if peace could not yet be achieved, Russia should intensify strikes on Ukraine, including with new types of weapons.

Diplomacy has moved in parallel. On October 21, 2026, the Kremlin, the office of the Russian president, said Russia was willing in principle to join new Ukraine peace talks in November. The following day, President Vladimir Putin said that any talks must focus on security for Russia, Ukraine and Europe as a whole.