While former U.S. President Donald Trump fabricates approval ratings for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and makes absurd claims about how the war could have been avoided by “bowing” to war-crimes wanted Vladimir Putin, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) has conducted its own nationwide public opinion survey to assess Ukrainians’ trust in their president.
The findings would likely come as a surprise to Trump—perhaps even a disappointment. As of the first half of February 2025, 57% of Ukrainians expressed trust in President Zelensky, a stark contrast to the mere 4% figure Trump put forward.
Furthermore, when comparing this to Trump’s own support in the 2024 U.S. presidential election—49.91%, less than half of American voters—it becomes evident that Zelensky continues to command greater trust among Ukrainians than Trump does among Americans, both today and at the time of Ukraine’s 2019 presidential election.
Recent polling in the United States during Donald Trump’s second presidency suggests that public confidence in his administration is beginning to erode. These findings, which track public sentiment about his policies and leadership, were shared today on Telegram by Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science, and Technology Development, as well as its Minister of Digital Transformation.
This isn’t about questioning Mr. Trump’s honesty or scrutinising every statement he makes. It’s about acknowledging the need to approach his words with caution—particularly when his rhetoric has the potential to shape Ukraine’s future and its fate.
While some international partners and allies express concerns over the legitimacy of Ukraine’s president in the context of potential peace talks, advocating for elections while the war rages on with missiles flying and shells exploding, Ukrainians themselves remain unperturbed. Regardless of any grievances they may have with the current president or government, the reality of war does not undermine their legitimacy to lead or negotiate on Ukraine’s behalf. Elections, however, should come only once the war has ended and Ukraine has secured robust security guarantees.
