Most Ukrainians Do Not Believe in a Quick Peace Following Trump–Putin Meeting in Alaska

The upcoming meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska has become a major topic in international news in recent days. Gradus Research conducted an urgent survey to capture what Ukrainians expect from this meeting and what scenarios they consider possible afterward.

High awareness, but low confidence in a positive outcome

Ninety-six percent of surveyed Ukrainians are aware of the planned meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska. However, only a quarter (26%) believe that it could lead to a complete cessation of active hostilities, while 69% remain skeptical.

Expectations regarding the war’s duration reinforce this skepticism: only 17% hope the fighting will end in 2025, 33% predict it will drag on for years, and another 34% refrain from making forecasts. This makes the prospect of a swift and lasting peace outcome from the meeting less likely in the eyes of most respondents.

“We see high public engagement with the topic and almost universal awareness of the meeting. At the same time, rational skepticism prevails: public opinion is split between cautious optimism about possible tactical outcomes (such as a temporary ceasefire) and the belief that a strategic end to the war remains unlikely in the near term,” commented Evgeniya Blyznyuk, sociologist, CEO & founder of Gradus Research.

Ukrainians remain resolute

Eighty percent believe that easing sanctions against Russia is unacceptable. An overwhelming majority also insists on holding the aggressor accountable: 92% say Russia must pay Ukraine full reparations for the devastating consequences of the war, and 91% believe the Russian leadership should face criminal responsibility for war crimes committed in Ukraine.

From the summit, they expect more of a temporary ceasefire than a sustainable peace.

How is the attitude toward the U.S. and other countries changing?

Despite the tense situation, Ukrainians ahead of the Alaska meeting view the U.S. more as a friendly country. This perception has significantly improved compared to after the tense meeting between the U.S. and Ukrainian presidents in the Oval Office in March this year.

Ukrainians continue to see key allies among Western countries: the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Baltic states, Canada, Poland, and others. The U.S. is named as a friendly country by 42% of respondents.
Among unfriendly/hostile countries, Belarus, North Korea, and Iran are mentioned most often. China is considered unfriendly by 55% of respondents, and Hungary by 52%.

The survey was conducted by Gradus Research using self-administered questionnaires in the Gradus mobile application. The sample reflects the structure of the population in cities with more than 50,000 residents aged 18–60 by gender, age, settlement size, and region, excluding temporarily occupied territories and active combat zones. Fieldwork date: August 15, 2025. Sample size: 1,000 respondents.