Trust in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has decreased by four percentage points since March, according to a recent survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology. Currently, 58% of respondents express confidence in the president, while 36% do not.
The survey, conducted from April 20 to April 27, indicates a shift in public sentiment. The trust balance, which was +30% in March, has now fallen to +22%. Specifically, the percentage of individuals who fully trust Zelensky stands at 25%, while 33% indicate they trust him somewhat. Among those who do not trust him, 18% express complete distrust, and another 18% lean towards skepticism.
Respondents were also asked about their views on Zelensky’s future role post-conflict. Approximately 28% of those surveyed stated they would like to see him continue as president after the war, an increase from 25% in October 2025. Meanwhile, 16% believe he could remain active in politics as a party leader or member of parliament.
Conversely, 30% of participants feel that Zelensky should exit politics entirely, a decrease from 36% in the previous survey. Additionally, 15% think he should face criminal prosecution, consistent with earlier responses.
Among those who fully trust Zelensky, a significant majority of 70% wish for him to remain president. However, only 28% of those who somewhat trust him share this view. In contrast, 62% of individuals who somewhat distrust him believe he should leave politics, though only 15% advocate for criminal charges. Among those who completely distrust him, 64% support the idea of prosecution.
To further explore the reasons behind distrust, the survey included 50 respondents who expressed significant skepticism towards Zelensky. Of these, 40% indicated that their distrust stems from long-standing issues dating back to 2022 or even 2019, with some citing specific grievances such as military withdrawals. Other reasons included the ongoing war (32%), unmet electoral promises (28%), corruption (20%), personnel policies (18%), incompetence (12%), mobilization efforts (10%), and declining living standards (10%).
The survey was conducted through telephone interviews with a random sample of 1,005 respondents across government-controlled regions of Ukraine. Notably, individuals from territories not under government control or those who have left the country since February 24, 2022, were excluded from the sample. The margin of error for this survey is estimated at 4.1% for values close to 50%. However, sociologists believe the results remain highly representative and provide reliable insights into public sentiment.
A recent survey indicates a slight decline in trust towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with 58% of respondents expressing confidence. The survey also reveals varied opinions on his future role in politics after the ongoing conflict.