German public opinion is split on whether Ukraine should surrender occupied territories to end the war, according to a ZDF Politbarometer survey conducted ahead of a planned Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska.

The poll, conducted by telephone and online among 1,370 randomly selected voters between 11-13 August 2025, found 42% believe Ukraine should give up parts of its territory if this would end the war. However, a slightly larger group—45%—think Ukraine should continue fighting to liberate these territories. The remaining 13% responded “don’t know.”

The survey comes before the scheduled meeting for 15 August between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss the Ukraine war. Only 13% of Germans believe Trump can broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine during this encounter, while 84% doubt such an outcome.

Germans show profound skepticism toward Putin’s intentions. Just 14% consider the Russian president genuinely interested in a lasting ceasefire, while 82% reject this notion. The distrust spans across party lines, with “different-sized majorities in all party affiliations” expressing doubt, according to the survey.

An overwhelming 89% of respondents consider it important or very important that Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky participate directly in talks between Trump and Putin to achieve a lasting ceasefire. Only 9% view Ukrainian participation as unimportant.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy recently confirmed he will not accept any territorial concessions in possible peace negotiations and “will be guided by the Constitution.” US President Trump has “expressed dissatisfaction” with these arguments from Zelensky.

The survey reveals the complexity of German public opinion as diplomatic efforts intensify to resolve the conflict that has lasted since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has firmly rejected US President Donald Trump’s proposal to exchange part of Ukraine’s territory in return for peace. Trump’s suggestion, which did not specify which areas might be swapped, struck a nerve with many Ukrainians, The New York Times reports.

Zelenskyy’s direct refusal risks angering, who has made brokering a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow one of the central goals of his foreign policy, even if the deal would disadvantage Ukraine.

“Peace as trap”: Ukraine may face pressure from US and Russia to accept Kremlin’s demands, says diplomat

This could leave Ukraine vulnarable to concessions it may need to make amid Kyiv’s dependency on Western aid and weapons in the struggle against Russia. 

Trump pushes for concessions

Trump has previously accused Ukraine of making excessively tough demands for a ceasefire. This time, he stated that some territories would need to be swapped and returned. There will be an exchange of territories for the benefit of both sides, he said. His vague comments sparked widespread outrage among Ukrainians.

Ukraine refuses to give up land

Zelenskyy’s stance reflects the overwhelming sentiment in Ukrainian society: territorial concessions are unacceptable. A Kyiv International Institute of Sociology poll found that over half of Ukrainians believe the country should not cede any land “even if this makes the war last longer and threatens the preservation of independence.”

Military experts warn that such a deal would mean abandoning a key fortified defensive line in northern Donetsk Oblast, between Sloviansk and Kostiantynivka, which has so far held back Russian advances.

Peace talks in Alaska and Moscow’s advantage

Trump has agreed to hold peace talks next Friday in Alaska. For now, Moscow’s approach, not Kyiv’s, appears to have the upper hand on the diplomatic front.

The Ukrainians will not surrender. A resounding 76% of Ukrainians firmly reject Russia’s so-called “peace plan”, which would require Ukraine to capitulate and surrender its territories, according to the results of a new survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) in summer 2025.

Support for the “US plan” grows slightly, but is still rejected by the majority

At the same time, the share of Ukrainians willing, albeit reluctantly, to consider a “conditional US plan” has grown: 39% now support it, up from 29% in May. Still, nearly half, 49%, say this option remains unacceptable.

The so-called US plan envisions Russia retaining occupied territories, the US recognition of Crimea as Russian and European, but not American, security guarantees for Ukraine.

The joint Europe-Ukraine plan is the only one with the biggest support

The only proposal supported by a majority is a joint peace plan between Europe and Ukraine, backed by 54% of Ukrainians. Just 30% oppose it, down from 35% in May. 

That plan envisions Ukraine continuing its path toward EU membership, the maintenance of sanctions against Russia, and no recognition of Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territory.

KIIS concludes: Even with a slight increase in willingness to consider compromise, peace on the Kremlin’s terms remains entirely unacceptable to most Ukrainians. Russia’s plan is capitulation, and Ukrainian society understands that clearly, the sociologists emphasize.