Poll: Majority of Ukrainians believe sanctions are most efficient tool for peace in Donbas

Iryna Bekeshkina, the director of the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation, announced this referring to the results of the nationwide poll conducted in December 2017.

"We asked what international initiatives or decisions of Ukrainian authorities could help or hinder the process of peaceful settlement of the situation in Donbas... A majority of the population (55%) believe that the most efficient tool for bringing peace would be strengthening the sanctions of the European Union and the United States against Russia. In addition, 55% of Ukrainians believe that strengthening of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and conduct of special operations for the gradual liberation of the occupied territories would be also effective. The main thing is that people across Ukraine (49%) support the introduction of the UN interim administration and peacekeeping forces for the management of the occupied territories at the time of the withdrawal of Russian troops and disarmament of militants," Bekeshkina said.

According to her, 46% of respondents believe that the resumption of social payments to residents of the occupied territories on general principles would contribute to the settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The provision of American defensive weapons to Ukraine as a tool for bringing peace to Donbas is supported by 44% of Ukrainians.

The poll was carried out by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation and the Razumkov Centre on December 15-19, 2017 in all regions of Ukraine (except for Crimea and the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions). A total of 2,004 respondents aged 18 years and older took part in the poll.

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