A solid clash in Kyiv! Ukrainians want peace talks with the Kremlin, but the military is adamantly opposed

Opinion polls in Ukraine show support for talks with Russia has grown since last year's failed counteroffensive, although most Ukrainians still say they want to continue fighting for the return of all Russian-occupied lands. However, as The Wall Street Journal writes, one key group remains negative about any deal with Russia: the military.

"According to a recent poll, only 18 percent of veterans and active-duty military believe Ukraine should seek a negotiated end to the war, the lowest percentage of any demographic surveyed. 15% of soldiers and veterans say they would join an armed protest if Kiev signs a peace treaty they don't agree with,”, the publication said.

The commander of the Third Airborne Assault Brigade, Andrey Biletsky, noted that although war fatigue is building up in society, "a military catastrophe has not occurred”.

"Ukraine can regain at least a very significant part of the territory," he says. "I see great danger in stopping war at random“.

Peace negotiations with the Russian Federation - opinions of civilians and military

Many in the military are convinced that if a peace deal is reached, Putin will use the pause in fighting only to rearm the Russian army and then invade the country again. Others say the sacrifice of their fallen comrades would be in vain if Ukraine simply agreed to hand over territory to Russia.

Ivan Panchenko, a 42-year-old veteran, is adamant that he will oppose any plan that involves handing over Ukrainian territory.

"Russia has violated dozens of international agreements over the past 30 years - an agreement with it is worth nothing," he said. "If we want lasting peace, we must cause them as much pain as possible“.

At the same time, although polls show that the general public remains skeptical of dealings with Putin, many - especially young people - are willing to accept even unfavorable peace terms to stop the war.

Alla Pronina of Zaporizhia says she has begun to reconsider the possibility of negotiations after the counteroffensive last year. Now that her husband is at the front, she is ready to give up all the territory that Russia now occupies in exchange for peace.

At the same time, as Vladimir Dubovik, director of the Center for International Studies, notes, a change in public opinion will give President Volodymyr Zelensky an opportunity to strike a deal.

"The very fact that people seem more willing to negotiate with Russia is a big change," Dubovik points out. But he added that any ceasefire would involve significant political risk: "Many Ukrainians would probably see it as a bad deal.

The division in society is deepening

Many soldiers fighting in the East say that a gulf has formed between the combatants and the residents of the country's big cities, who are oblivious to the war.

"The government has created conditions in which those who are really motivated will not agree to agreements providing for the surrender of territory, but those who do not fight will make the decisions,” says one of the military.