Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Approval Ratings Plummet Amid War and Uncertainty
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s approval ratings have suffered a significant decline, according to a new poll released by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on Tuesday. The survey showed that only 52% of Ukrainians trust their leader, a drastic drop from 90% in March 2022, just weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine.
The poll also revealed that 39% of respondents now actively do not trust Zelensky, a significant increase from the 7% who held this view in March 2022. Anton Grushetsky, executive director of KIIS, emphasized that a weakening of trust in Zelensky “reduces his future potential and weight as a public figure” and deals a “critical blow to the institution of the presidency.”
Zelensky, a former comedian, rose to power in 2019 on promises to end the conflict in the east of the country and combat systemic corruption. However, under martial law, Ukraine is unable to hold elections, and the country faces numerous challenges, including millions of Ukrainians living under Russian occupation or near active hostilities. Russia has repeatedly claimed that Zelensky is no longer the legitimate leader of Ukraine, a assertion largely ignored by the West and Russia’s allies.
