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By Yuliia Dysa<\/p>\n
KYIV, Jan 16 (Reuters) – A majority of Ukrainians would strongly oppose withdrawing troops from the part of the eastern Donetsk region still \u200bcontrolled by Kyiv in exchange for European and U.S. security guarantees, a \u200cpoll released on Friday indicated.<\/p>\n
Ukraine, wary of unmet commitments in the past, is pushing for legally binding \u200csecurity guarantees to prevent any future Russian aggression.<\/p>\n
Ukraine is under U.S. pressure to agree quickly to a peace deal, but has refused to accept Russian demands that it cede land it still controls in eastern Donbas, a large mineral-rich industrial area comprising the \u2060Donetsk and Luhansk regions.<\/p>\n
Russia controls \u200calmost all of Luhansk, but Kyiv still holds about 20% of Donetsk, including a string of strategically vital garrison towns and defensive \u200dlines.<\/p>\n
According to the poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), 54% of Ukrainians categorically reject the idea of withdrawing from parts of Donbas in return for security reassurances from allies.<\/p>\n
Some \u200b39% said they would reluctantly accept.<\/p>\n
“Moreover, those who are ready to agree expect \u200cquite significant security guarantees. Therefore, if the level of security guarantees is lower than expected, approval of such a proposal will be even lower,” said KIIS executive director Anton Hrushetskyi.<\/p>\n
The survey was conducted in early January among 601 respondents on Ukrainian-controlled territory.<\/p>\n
Almost 70% did not believe current negotiations would lead to a lasting peace.<\/p>\n
Some 57% believed \u2060Russia would attack again in the event \u200bof a ceasefire at the current frontlines and security \u200bguarantees from allies.<\/p>\n
However, even if security guarantees were given, 40% believed the U.S. would not provide support in the event of renewed Russian \u200dinvasion, while 39% \u2060thought it would.<\/p>\n
Russia has publicly shown little interest in scaling down its demands and made few comments regarding the 20-point peace framework that Ukraine and the \u2060U.S. have been trying to finalise.<\/p>\n
Instead, Russia has stepped up air strikes, significantly damaging already shattered \u200cenergy infrastructure and leaving millions without power and heating in freezing temperatures.<\/p>\n
(Reporting \u200cby Yuliia Dysa; Editing by Kevin Liffey)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n