•ARD Poll Shows Deep Public Anxiety Over Escalation
Nearly half of Germans believe that Ukraine will have to make territorial concessions to Russia as a necessary step toward ending the ongoing war, according to a recent survey commissioned by Germany’s public broadcaster ARD and reported by Tagesschau.
The findings reflect evolving public opinion amid persistent conflict and rising fears of a broader European war.
According to the poll, 47% of German respondents expressed the view that Ukraine should be prepared to relinquish some of its territory to facilitate a peace agreement with Russia.
In contrast, 40% disagreed with the notion, indicating a significant but divided sentiment within the German public.
While the current figure suggests that a large segment of the population supports the idea of territorial compromise, it actually marks a decline from previous months.
In December 2024, a majority of 53% favored such concessions, signaling a possible shift in public attitudes.
By comparison, just one year after the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, only 35% of Germans supported the idea of Ukraine ceding land to Russia.
The survey also revealed growing concerns about the broader implications of the war. A notable 64% of those polled reported having “significant” or “very significant” fears that Europe could be heading toward a major military conflict.
This widespread apprehension underscores the escalating anxiety in Germany and across the continent as the war continues with no clear resolution in sight.
The decline in support for territorial concessions may reflect growing awareness of the moral, legal, and strategic complexities involved in such a move, as well as continued solidarity with Ukraine’s sovereignty.
However, the persistent near-majority favoring compromise highlights the German public’s deep desire for an end to the war—even at the cost of difficult political decisions.
As the war drags on, European leaders face increasing pressure to balance their commitments to Ukraine with domestic concerns about security, economic stability, and the potential for escalation.
The poll results underscore the delicate and often polarizing debate within Germany over how best to achieve peace while maintaining core democratic values and supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
The survey comes at a critical time, as international efforts to negotiate a sustainable peace remain stalled and as Russia continues its military operations, particularly in eastern and southern Ukraine.
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