Russia Matters, 3/6/26

A February 2026 Levada Center survey shows that while most Russians still back the war in Ukraine, support for peace talks has reached a record high—revealing a widening gap between the desire for “peace” and what that peace would entail. While 67% now say peace negotiations should begin, and only 24% want military action to continue—the highest and lowest readings, respectively, since Levada began asking this question in 2022—other polling underscores that many Russians favor talks only on terms Ukrainians are unlikely to accept. For instance, a February 2026 Russian Field survey finds large majorities of Russians deem it “mandatory” for any peace deal that Donbas be recognized as Russian, Ukraine forgo NATO membership and Western sanctions on Russia be lifted, while a January 2026 KIIS poll shows 57% of Ukrainians categorically reject withdrawing troops from Donbas even for Western security guarantees. A separate question in Levada’s February survey finds 57% of Russians consider strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure “rather justified,” versus 20% who say they are unacceptable; opponents mostly cite civilian suffering, while supporters frame the attacks as retaliatory or necessary to weaken Ukraine’s economy and military. See graphs on the Levada poll at the end of the digest.*