WASHINGTON — The Kremlin announced Thursday that preparations are underway for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, with a venue already agreed upon and to be revealed soon. This development comes as a new Gallup poll shows that Ukrainians are increasingly open to a negotiated end to Russia’s invasion.
Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, confirmed that both sides are working to finalize the details of the meeting. If it proceeds as planned, it would mark the first face-to-face encounter between Putin and Trump since Trump returned to office earlier this year. While symbolically significant amid the ongoing war, the meeting offers no guarantee of a resolution, as Russia and Ukraine remain deeply divided in their demands.
Growing Support for Negotiated Settlement in Ukraine
The Gallup survey highlights a dramatic shift in public opinion within Ukraine. In 2022, when the war began, nearly three-quarters of Ukrainians supported fighting until complete victory. Today, only about one-quarter still hold that view, with support for continued resistance declining across all regions and demographics.
The findings are based on surveys of at least 1,000 Ukrainian residents aged 15 and older. Notably, areas under firm Russian control—representing roughly 10% of the population—were excluded from the survey due to access issues after 2022.
Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, over 12,000 Ukrainian civilians have died in attacks far from the front lines, according to the United Nations. On the battlefield, which stretches roughly 1,000 kilometers from northeast to southeast Ukraine, Russia’s numerically superior forces are gradually advancing, with heavy casualties reported on both sides.
The poll was released just ahead of President Trump’s Friday deadline, demanding Russia halt its military operations or face severe economic sanctions.
Ukrainians Favor Negotiations, Doubt Short-Term Peace
According to Gallup’s July survey, approximately 70% of Ukrainians now favor seeking a negotiated settlement as soon as possible. Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy renewed his offer to meet with Putin, but Russia rejected the proposal, insisting on its longstanding conditions.
Despite growing support for talks, most Ukrainians remain skeptical about the prospects for peace. Only about one in four respondents said it’s likely the fighting will end within a year, while about 70% consider that outcome unlikely.
US Approval Plummets, Germany Gains Favor
Ukrainians’ perception of the United States has deteriorated sharply over the past three years. While two-thirds of Ukrainians approved of U.S. leadership in 2022, that figure has now dropped to just 16%. Even before Trump’s return to office in January, approval had been steadily declining—possibly due to Republican opposition to continued American aid for Ukraine.
In contrast, Germany’s reputation among Ukrainians has improved. Approval of German leadership now stands at 63%, up significantly from previous years.
Optimism for NATO and EU Membership Diminishes
Expectations for Ukraine’s integration into Western institutions have also declined. Only one-third of Ukrainians now believe the country will join NATO within the next 10 years, down from two-thirds in 2022. Another third think NATO membership will never happen.
Prospects for joining the European Union remain slightly more optimistic but have still dropped. Currently, 52% expect EU membership within a decade, compared to 73% who felt that way in 2022.
