A recent poll found that the number of Ukrainians who want to fight Russia until the end of the war has fallen to 60%. President Volodymyr Zelensky has tight control over media in Ukraine, and his regime has targeted dissenters against fighting the war.
The Gallup survey results released on Monday shows support for “fighting until the war is won” has fallen to 60% from 70% last year. The number of Ukrainians wanting to seek a diplomatic resolution has increased from 25% to 31% over the past 12 months. Support for finding an end to the war is strongest in the regions where fighting is ongoing.
The waning approval of fighting comes as Ukraine’s summer counteroffensive resulted in substantial casualties and minimal territorial gains. Kiev’s Western backers knew the military operations were unlikely to succeed and would result in high casualties. In August, the Washington Post reported the counteroffensive’s failures had blunted morale.
The slipping support for Zelensky’s pledge to retake the Donbas and Crimea through military means comes as Kiev has tight control over Ukrainian media. Shortly after the start of the war, Zelensky nationalized the media and only allowed outlets to operate with state licenses. Additionally, Ukrainian police have rounded up citizens who expressed dissatisfaction with the war.
Approval of aiding the war in Ukraine is shrinking in the US as well. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found 41% of Americans support sending more arms to Ukraine, while 35% oppose further military assistance. When the same survey was conducted in May, 46% of Americans backed sending arms, while 29% were opposed.
