Since Russia invaded Ukraine three years ago, President Volodymyr Zelensky has faced a myriad of challenges, including military assaults, assassination plots, corruption scandals, and infighting within his government, as well as setbacks in his army’s fight against Russia. Despite these challenges, he has maintained majority support among Ukrainians.
However, Zelensky’s popularity has been dwindling, with his approval rating dropping from 90% to nearly 50% in recent polls. This is a concern for the president, as he faces a new challenge: maintaining good relations with the United States, particularly with President Donald Trump, who has been critical of him and skeptical of military aid.
Domestically, the revival of political opposition in Ukraine has emerged, with former President Petro O. Poroshenko and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko reaching out to members of Trump’s team. The latter even attended inauguration events in Washington on Monday.
Zelensky’s leadership style has been criticized, with some saying he has become too isolated, and that his decisions are not well-received by the opposition. His popularity has also been affected by setbacks in the war, with many Ukrainians questioning his ability to lead.
Meanwhile, Trump and his team have taken shots at Zelensky, with some critics saying he is not doing enough to fight the war. Zelensky’s allies have scrambled to make inroads with Trump’s team, including meeting with his supporters and discussing potential business deals.
Despite the challenges, Zelensky still has a slim majority of support among Ukrainians, with 52% trusting him as president, according to a recent poll. However, a hypothetical election survey showed him trailing a former military commander, Valery Zaluzhny, who was removed from his position as part of a military overhaul and is now Ukraine’s ambassador to Britain.
With no elections scheduled due to the ongoing war and martial law, Zelensky’s support is under scrutiny, with many wondering if he can maintain his position and win re-election when the time comes.