Most Ukrainians against codifying Donbas's special status in Ukrainian constitution, favor talks with Donetsk, Luhansk - poll
KYIV. Oct 11 (Interfax) - More than half of Ukrainians - 56% - do not support the idea of granting special status to Donbas and codifying it in the constitution, as seen from a public opinion poll of 2,015 respondents aged 18 and older conducted by the Razumkov Cener on October 4-9.
Only 26% of those polled support the idea.
The idea of making Ukraine a federation is rejected by 63% of those polled, while 17% support it.
As concerns the political future of the Donbas areas not controlled by Kyiv (ORDLO), 56% of Ukrainians wanted their reincorporation into the Donetsk and Luhansk regions on the same terms as before, 13.5% said these areas should be reincorporated into Ukraine but have more independence from Kyiv, 10% that these territories should have autonomous status within Ukraine, 3% that they be separated from Ukraine and become independent states, and 3% that they be separated from Ukraine and become part of Russia.
Only 23.5% of the respondents insist on achieving peace in Donbas through the use of force (52% are against this). Only 12% would support the separation of the territories occupied by the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (73% against), and only 10% would support the recognition of Crimea as part of Russia in exchange for the liberation of Donbas (70% against).
As many as 41.5% of those polled support the idea of starting official negotiations with the current ORDLO leadership, while 39% disapprove of this.
As many as 47% of the respondents do not support the idea of arranging trade-economic and financial contacts with the DPR and LPR (36% support this), and 44% disapprove of the idea to end the financing of those territories (the payment of pensions, salaries, etc.), while 33% approve of it.
At the same time, asked what compromises they see as unacceptable for settling peace in Donbas, 59% of those polled mentioned pardoning those who were involved in the fighting (18% would support this measure) 59% the abandoning of Ukraine's course toward European integration (19% would support it), 56% granting the Russian language official status (29.5% would agree to this), and 54% the abandoning of Ukraine's aspirations to become a NATO member (25% would agree).