Ukrainians are critical of the government, tax hikes and support negotiations to end the war: poll results
In the context of a prolonged military conflict, Ukrainian society is going through a difficult process of introspection and adaptation to new realities. During the war, people’s views on economic, political and social aspects change significantly, which is clearly reflected in their attitudes towards public policy. The war not only strengthens national unity, but also shapes sharp reactions to government steps, in particular, to decisions that directly affect the welfare of the population. Thesurvey conducted by the All-Ukrainian NGO ‘Advanced Legal Initiatives’ in October 2024 allowed us to see the moods of Ukrainians in the context of important socio-political topics, such as tax burden, political sympathies, and the search for ways to end the war.
Reaction to the tax increase
The decision of the Ukrainian parliament to increase taxes in early October caused significant dissatisfaction among Ukrainians. Only 3.97% of respondents supported the decision, justifying it as a way to raise funds for military needs. However, a significant portion of the population – 57.83% – perceived this step negatively, and 35.30% – extremely negatively. Respondents believe that the tax increase is unfair and inappropriate in times of war, and 90.16% consider this measure unacceptable.
The main reasons for this negative perception are the lack of professionalism in the government (42.13%), insufficient understanding of the economic situation (30.17%) and possible agreements with oligarchs (23.07%). Instead of raising taxes for citizens, 47.81% of respondents believe it would be appropriate to use seized Russian assets to replenish the budget, while 44% support increasing taxes for oligarchs and large business groups.
Political sympathies and attitudes
The study also highlighted the overall level of support among Ukrainians for the policies of the current government, with 87.63% of respondents expressing dissatisfaction. The main reasons for this attitude include corruption (30.3%), repressive mobilisation (17.53%) and unjustified increases in utility tariffs (12.48%).
In terms of presidential preferences, if elections were held now, 15.98% of Ukrainians would support incumbent President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 12.07% would vote for Yulia Tymoshenko, and 7.24% would vote for Petro Poroshenko. At the same time, Zelenskyy’s party leads in the parliamentary ratings with 13.97% of support, followed by Batkivshchyna (11.41%) and Eurosolidarity (6.43%).
Views on the possibility of ending the war
The issue of war and peace is particularly sensitive for Ukrainians. More than half of respondents (56.46%) believe that the basis for peace should be the restoration of the country’s territorial integrity within the 1991 borders and Ukraine’s accession to the EU and NATO. However, 43.54 per cent are in favour of bilateral negotiations that could lead to an immediate cessation of hostilities. The idea of holding a referendum on peace agreements is supported by 42.91% of respondents, while 40.11% consider it inappropriate, and about 17% have no clear position on this issue.
An important aspect is the compromises that Ukrainians are willing to consider: 52.9% of respondents believe that Ukraine should seek the return of the 1991 borders and accession to NATO. However, 47.10 per cent consider the possibility of freezing the conflict on the current frontline with the integration of the unoccupied territories into the EU and NATO.
The research conducted by the NGO ‘Advanced Legal Initiatives’ clearly shows that war and politics during war have a huge impact on the mood of citizens. Ukrainians want to see a clear and professional strategy of the state in managing finances and ending the war. They prefer economic solutions that do not create an additional burden for ordinary citizens. There is also a clear demand for fair and transparent approaches to warfare and peacebuilding. The public mood requires responsible decisions from the authorities and the ability of leaders to hear and take into account the wishes of the people.
