The press release was prepared by Anton Grushetskyi,executive director of KIIS

From May 7 to June 3, 2026, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) conducted its own all-Ukrainian public opinion survey "Omnibus", to which, on its own initiative, added a question what respondents consider more important for the country - the welfare of the population or territorial integrity and sovereignty. By the method of telephone interviews (computer-assistedtelephoneinterviews, CATI) based on a random sample of mobile phone numbers (with random generation of phone numbers and subsequent statistical weighting) in all regions of Ukraine (the territory controlled by the Government of Ukraine), 1,000 respondents were surveyed. The survey was conducted with adult (aged 18 and older) citizens of Ukraine who, at the time of the survey, lived in the territory of Ukraine controlled by the Government of Ukraine. The sample did not include residents of territories temporarily not controlled by the Ukrainian authorities (at the same time, some of the respondents are IDPs who moved from the occupied territories), and the survey was not conducted with citizens who left abroad after February 24, 2022.

Formally, under normal circumstances, the statistical error of such a sample (with a probability of 0.95 and taking into account the design effect of 1.3) did not exceed 4.1% for indicators close to 50%, 3.5% for indicators close to 25%, 2.5% for indicators close to 10%, 1.8% for indicators close to 5%.

Under conditions of war, in addition to the specified formal error, a certain systematic deviation is added. Factors that may affect the quality of results in "wartime" conditions were previously cited by KIIS.

In general, we believe that the obtained results are still highly representative and allow a fairly reliable analysis of the public moods of the population.

In October 2020 (i.e., a year and a half before the full-scale invasion), KIIS asked respondents what was more important for Ukraine – independence and the integrity of its borders (as one answer) or the welfare of the population. Then, 52% chose the “state-oriented” option, while a significant proportion (every third – 33%) indicated that, in their opinion, the welfare of the population was more important[1]. In December 2023, we asked this question again. Although the expectations from 2023 did not come true, after the full-scale invasion there was a significant shift in many values and orientations of Ukrainians, so we expected that there should have been changes on this question compared to 2020. However, in December 2023, 53% chose “independence and the integrity of its borders” and 34% chose “the welfare of the population”. That is, there were practically no changes compared to the period before the full-scale invasion.

Now, in 2026, we have decided to ask this question again. At the same time, we have divided it into two separate questions. In one case, we contrasted welfare and territorial integrity, in the other case, welfare and sovereignty and independence. We have divided them because more Ukrainians are ready to discuss temporary territorial losses than the issue of sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

Some experts may rightly point out that the opposition of welfare and, for example, sovereignty is to some extent artificial, since without sovereignty there will be no welfare. Having given up sovereignty, people will ultimately have neither sovereignty nor welfare. However, it should be taken into account that part of Russian propaganda and information warfare is to convince Ukrainians (and even more broadly, Europeans as well) that there is no need to hold on to sovereignty, that it is possible to “give it up” a little, but at the same time receive a “reward” in the form of a better standard of living. Therefore, such a dangerous construct fully exists in the minds of some citizens and it is important to monitor how widespread it is.

Another important methodical comment is that Ukraine is indeed advancing on the path of European integration, which will eventually involve the delegation of certain powers to a higher level of the EU. It can also be interpreted as a limitation of sovereignty (discussions about which we see in many EU member states). However, currently this issue is not part of active public discussions (especially at the level of ordinary citizens). Now the issue of sovereignty and independence is part of the discourse surrounding the war with Russia and possible peace agreements. At the same time, later, when after the successful end of the war for Ukraine, there will be intensive discussions about European integration, the issue of sovereignty will take on a different coloring.

So, the graph below shows the results for both pairs. Coupled with territorial integrity, 40% prioritize the welfare of the population, 48% prioritize territorial integrity. That is, there are more people who consider territorial integrity more important, but at the same time the advantage in its favor is relatively insignificant.

However, in the second pair, the majority – 59% – consider sovereignty and independence to be more important, rather than welfare. However, quite a few people (29%) consider welfare more important than sovereignty and independence.

Graph 1. Which of these is more important for Ukraine?

The table below shows a two-dimensional table of answers to both questions, where the sum of the cells is 100%. So, 21% of respondents consistently, in both pairs, chose "the welfare of the population". That is, for 21%, "the welfare of the population" is more important than both territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Simultaneously 39% consistently, in both pairs, chose a “statesman” position, meaning that territorial integrity and sovereignty are more important to them.

Table 1. Which of these is more important for Ukraine?

the sum of all cells is 100%

                The table below shows the responses of respondents in terms of individual socio-demographic categories. It can be seen that there are certain differences. We suggest paying attention to the following differences:

• By trust in President. Among those who trust V. Zelenskyy, there are more who choose territorial integrity and sovereignty and independence. In particular, 68% choose sovereignty and independence against 21% who choose welfare. Among those who do not trust him, 42% chose sovereignty and independence and 45% - welfare;
• By region. From West to East, the share of those who choose territorial integrity (from 54% to 38%) and sovereignty and independence (from 64% to 53%) decreases slightly. However, at the same time, in all regions there are more people for whom sovereignty and independence are a greater value than the welfare of the population;
• By age. The younger the respondents, the less important territorial integrity is for them. Among 18-29 year old respondents, 62% choose welfare rather than territorial integrity (32% chose it). Among 30-44 year olds, it is less pronounced, but welfare also prevails – 50% versus 38%. And among 45+ year olds, there are more of those for whom territorial integrity is more important. At the same time, in the case of sovereignty and independence, the trend is similar (from 20% among 60+ year olds to 40% among 18-29 year olds, there are more of those for whom welfare is more important than sovereignty and independence), but still in all age categories there are more of those who value sovereignty and independence more;
• By language of communication at home. If the majority of Ukrainian-speaking and bilingual citizens (65% and 57%, respectively) consider sovereignty and independence to be more important, then among Russian-speaking citizens - 41%. At the same time, 48% of Russian-speaking citizens prefer welfare. It should be noted separately that in the same survey we asked about the perception of persecution and oppressions for Russian language[2]. Thus, a third of Russian-speaking citizens believe that there is persecution in Ukraine on the basis of language, and among this third (if it is counted as 100%), 74% consider welfare more important than sovereignty and independence. In contrast, among Russian-speaking citizens who do not believe that there are problems with the Russian language in Ukraine, the majority (58%) consider sovereignty and independence to be more important.

Table 2. Which of these is more important for Ukraine in terms of socio-demographic categories

The table below shows how different ceasefire scenarios are treated along the current front line[4] those who consider welfare or territorial integrity/sovereignty and independence more important.

It is appropriate to pay attention to scenarios where hostilities are frozen without any security guarantees for Ukraine. Among those for whom welfare is more important than sovereignty and independence, 49% are ready to support this option, 47% categorically against. At the same time, among those for whom sovereignty and independence are more important, 72% categorically reject such a proposal (ready to support - 24%).

Table 3. Attitude towards a ceasefire along the current front line in terms of what is considered more important for Ukraine

A. Grushetskyi, comments on the survey results:

We share the point of view that without sovereignty and independence it will be impossible to create a foundation for the prosperity of Ukraine and the improvement of the welfare of the population. Therefore, the idea of sovereignty concessions to achieve peace, which supposedly will allow raising living standards, is an insidious trap of the Russian enemy. Even if, due to the cessation of hostilities, a part of the population will feel an improvement in their standard of living (and it is very doubtful that the majority of the population will actually feel this), but this will only be a short-term respite, which will return with a new attempt by Russia to subjugate Ukraine. In the medium and long term, Russia and the Russians will return to complete their intention to kill Ukrainians.

Fortunately, in our surveys, a stable majority (66%) of Ukrainians are aware that Russia seeks to destroy the Ukrainian nation or commit genocide[5]. And 57% believe that even with security guarantees, Russia will try to attack Ukraine again (and another 26% assessed the probability as 50/50)[6]. That is, most Ukrainians understand the existential nature of the threats from Russia and Russians.

At the same time, we should not reassure ourselves that for the majority of Ukrainians, sovereignty and independence are more important than welfare. Still, the 29% who consider welfare more important is a very significant share of citizens (and the prevalence of views among younger Ukrainians is especially disturbing). And we see the connection of such views with the end of the war under any conditions. Therefore, the promotion of such a narrative (about the greater importance of welfare and the expediency of concessions by sovereignty) contains serious risks and threats to the security of Ukraine. This requires consolidated actions of both the Ukrainian government, the opposition and civil society. It also requires the actions of the European allies, where Russia also shares a similar opinion.

Appendix 1. Formulation of questions from the questionnaire

Which of these is more important for Ukraine? READ. ORDER RANDOMIZATION. ADD "OR" BETWEEN STATEMENTS

And of these? READ. ORDER RANDOMIZATION. ADD "OR" BETWEEN STATEMENTS

RANDOMIZE PAIRS

Pair №1

Pair №2