A nationwide survey conducted by the Democratic Initiatives Foundation and the Razumkov Center in December 2025 showed that most Ukrainians are not ready to agree to the recognition of the occupied territories as part of Russia. Two thousand respondents aged 18 and older were surveyed throughout the territory controlled by Ukraine.
According to the results, 76% of Ukrainians consider it unacceptable to recognize the occupied territories as part of the Russian Federation, only 13% agree with this, and another 11% abstained from answering.
The survey confirms that for most Ukrainians, the issue of Russia’s recognition of the occupied territories remains a “red line” that they are not willing to cross even for the sake of ending the war.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center emphasizes that the principle of Ukraine’s sovereignty, enshrined as the first point of the basic document on ending the war, excludes any compromises regarding the status of Crimea and other occupied territories. Any approaches that provide for their separation or change of status are contrary to international law and set a dangerous precedent for the whole world.