Ukraine: More and more people would accept peace even with territorial cessions

People in Ukraine have been following the developments surrounding the meetings in Anchorage and Washington with great interest. The prospect of peace has softened many's strong opposition to territorial cessions. Our special correspondent and war reporter Lukas Moser is on the ground in Ukraine for the Berliner Zeitung.

These are surprising insights into the Ukrainian psyche. Dozens of conversations with passersby in Odessa reveal that Ukrainians' opinions on a possible peace have changed. Concessions that seemed impossible just a short time ago are now accepted by many. The question is: What does all this mean for future negotiations?

Territorial cessions suddenly no longer taboo

It's just before 10 p.m. in Odessa , and sirens are wailing through the city center. "Don't worry, this kind of alarm usually doesn't cause anything," someone at the table says. But just four minutes later, there's a loud bang in the distance – clearly audible. Disillusionment fills the group. It's become part of everyday life. A daily routine that many hope will soon change.

The momentum generated by the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart Donald Trump in Alaska, and the subsequent summit of European leaders, including PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy, at the White House, has fueled hopes of an early end to the war here in Ukraine itself. For a long time, the majority of Ukrainians—at least that's how they presented themselves publicly—opposed peace under conditions dictated by Russia. Territorial cessions were out of the question for many; only Crimea was open to discussion as a bargaining chip.

What's now on the table—a freezing of the front line and the additional ceding of the entire Donbas—is much more. And yet, the public's opinion seems to be shifting toward accepting these conditions—for "real peace," we hear again and again. One must be realistic, otherwise it will never end.

Distrust of Russia remains

What was once a credo is rarely heard: concerns about the Ukrainians in the (then newly) occupied territories in the east and south. It's a painful shift toward reality that one senses here. Of course, many are still opposed to any territorial cessions, but a change is noticeable among large segments of the population. In particular, a de facto cession without official recognition seems to be finding increasing acceptance among the population.

One must simply ensure that a transitional period is set for the handover of the Donbass region, allowing for the construction of new defense lines behind it. Distrust of the Russians is greater than ever. Why, then, do people still believe that peace is possible? Most people here fail to answer this question. It's less belief than hope—or simply necessity.

The Ukrainian population is deflated; after three and a half years, they long for a bit of normality. Forgotten are the euphoric feelings following military successes, which were sometimes simply talked up as good. With all the virulent problems on the front lines, especially in the Donbass, one could still stage these successes here and there – but they hardly happen anymore. Three and a half years of war with increasing danger, even here in Odessa, have left their mark. The prospect of peace is now allowing these feelings to surface for many.

But the road to real peace is still long, and many questions remain unanswered. How would the military react to the surrender of territory without a fight in the event of a peace agreement? How active would the extreme political right in Ukraine become, which is fundamentally opposed to concessions? And last but not least: Does Russia truly want peace? In other words, is a genuine negotiated solution even possible? The next few days could at least bring more clarity in this regard.