A recent survey indicates a persistent level of public opinion in Germany suggesting a willingness to consider territorial concessions by Ukraine as a potential pathway to ending the ongoing conflict with Russia. The poll, conducted by Forsa for RTL and ntv’s “Trendbarometer” between August 8th and 11th, with a representative sample of 1,001 citizens, reveals that 53% believe Ukraine may need to be prepared to cede occupied territories to Russia in order to achieve a peace agreement. This figure remains largely consistent with a similar survey conducted in Spring 2023, which registered 54% support for this position. Conversely, 39% of respondents oppose any territorial concessions.
Significant divergence in opinion is apparent along party lines. Opposition to territorial concessions is most pronounced among supporters of the Green Party (66%) and The Left party (51%). Conversely, a willingness to consider such concessions is notably higher among supporters of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) – with 86% in agreement – and also observed among a substantial portion of voters aligning with the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) – 42% – and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) – 47%.
The survey also gauged public perception regarding the potential influence of former US President Donald Trump in mediating a resolution to the conflict. A significant majority – 73% – expressed skepticism that Trump could successfully persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a nationwide ceasefire. Only 20% believe such an outcome is possible. This doubt is particularly strong among SPD (89%) and Green Party (89%) supporters, but also prevails among CDU/CSU voters (79%). A relative majority of AfD supporters (35%) are the only group demonstrating a considerable level of belief in Trump’s potential influence.
Currently, Russia occupies approximately 114,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory, representing around 19% of Ukraine’s total land area – an area exceeding the combined size of the German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
