Trust in Zelensky Dips Slightly but Remains Strong at 58%, KIIS Poll Finds

Some 28% of respondents said they would like him to remain president – up slightly from 25% in October 2025. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky walks upon his arrival ahead of an informal meeting of the European Council, in Ayia Napa on April 23, 2026. (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Public trust in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has edged down in late April but remains solidly above 50%, according to a new survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) . The poll, conducted between April 20–27, shows that 58% of Ukrainians trust the president, while 36% say they do not – leaving a net trust balance of +22 percentage points. That marks a modest decline from March, when 62% expressed trust and 32% distrust, for a stronger +30 balance. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . Of those who back Zelensky, 25% say they “fully” trust him, while 33% “rather” trust him. Among skeptics, opinions are evenly split between those who “rather do not trust” (18%) and those who “do not trust at all” (18%). The survey also highlights mixed expectations for Zelensky’s political future after the war. Some 28% of respondents said they would like him to remain president – up slightly from 25% in October 2025. Another 16% believe he could stay in politics in a different role, such as a party leader or member of parliament. Other Topics of Interest Zelensky Arrives in Yerevan for European Political Community Summit President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Armenia to participate in a high-level summit where he will hold key meetings with leaders from the Czech Republic, Finland, Norway and the UK. At the same time, 30% – down from 36% last October – said Zelensky should leave politics altogether, suggesting roles in charity, international advocacy, or private life. A further 15% believe he should face criminal prosecution, a figure unchanged since last year. Support for Zelensky staying on is strongest among his core base: 70% of those who “fully” trust him want him to remain president. However, among those who “rather” trust him, that support drops sharply to 28%. Among critics, attitudes harden. A majority (62%) of those who “rather do not trust” him favor his exit from politics, while 64% of those who “do not trust at all” support criminal prosecution. KIIS researchers also probed the reasons behind negative sentiment, focusing on respondents who expressed distrust. Four in ten said their skepticism predates recent developments, tracing back to 2022 or even Zelensky’s 2019 election. Among more specific concerns, 32% cited the failure to end the war, 28% pointed to unfulfilled campaign promises, and 20% mentioned corruption. Other factors included dissatisfaction with personnel policy (18%), perceptions of incompetence (12%), issues around mobilization and enlistment offices (10%), and declining living standards (10%). The survey was based on telephone interviews with 1,005 respondents across government-controlled areas of Ukraine. Residents of occupied territories and Ukrainians who left the country after Feb. 24, 2022, were not included, although internally displaced persons were represented. KIIS notes that under normal conditions, the margin of error does not exceed 4.1% for indicators near 50%. While wartime conditions may introduce additional uncertainty, the institute says the results remain broadly representative of public opinion. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice.