The opposition European Solidarity faction expelled Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksii Goncharenko after he proposed phased agreements with Russia, including sanctions relief, as polling showed support for talks but opposition to a specific Donbas withdrawal proposal.
The party rejected Goncharenko’s approach to ending the war and setting Ukraine’s future security arrangements on Oct. 5, when its parliamentary faction decided to remove him. European Solidarity said the expulsion was formally announced in parliament Oct. 14.
Polling by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) shows how much the proposed terms matter. In a survey conducted Oct. 8-16, 61% considered it categorically unacceptable for Ukraine to withdraw troops from the Donbas territory it still controls, placing it under Russian control, in exchange for security guarantees from the United States and Europe. Another 35% would accept the arrangement, while 4% were undecided. KIIS said the result had not changed significantly since a survey in late July and early August.
A separate KIIS poll conducted Sept. 12-21 found that 75% allowed negotiations with Russia to end the war now. Asked about an immediate, complete ceasefire along the current front line, 69% were ready to support it if Ukraine did not legally recognize occupied territory as Russian, continued strengthening its military and kept pursuing European Union and NATO membership. KIIS cautioned that openness to talks did not measure support for concessions.
The October survey covered 1,031 adult Ukrainian citizens in government-controlled territory. It excluded residents of occupied areas and Ukrainians who had left the country after Feb. 24, 2022.
In an Oct. 4 column, Goncharenko urged smaller agreements covering shipping, energy, infrastructure and the front line, each backed by an outside guarantor. He proposed linking each stage of relief from sanctions on Russian energy exports to a Russian step, including an end to long-range strikes, the lifting of the Black Sea blockade and a restriction of fighting to the Donbas front. He also proposed discussing neutrality and restoring sanctions automatically if strikes resumed.
Goncharenko argued that safer shipping and fewer attacks would help Ukraine’s economy. He acknowledged that easing sanctions would give Russia more money to finance the war. Citing the Minsk agreements, he argued that guarantors need interests of their own in keeping an agreement in force.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Oct. 11 that Ukraine was prepared to stop striking Russian energy infrastructure if Russia did the same. He also backed a ceasefire supported by security guarantees.
