A poll revealed Ukrainians' views on Zelenskyy's political future
According to sociological surveys, most citizens do not support the idea of Volodymyr Zelenskyy remaining in office as president after the war ends, despite his current approval ratings during martial law.
This is stated in a study by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS).
Only 28% of respondents want Zelenskyy to continue his presidency after the war—a slight increase compared to 25% in October 2025. Another 16% are willing to see Zelenskyy remain in politics, but in a different role—for example, as a member of parliament or party leader.
In contrast, 30% believe he should leave politics entirely. Among the options are philanthropy, advocating for Ukraine’s interests abroad, or simply leading a private life. Fifteen percent call for criminal prosecution.
Opinions on Zelenskyy’s future vary sharply depending on how much a person trusts him.
Among those who trust him “completely,” 70% want to see him remain president. But among those who trust him “somewhat,” this desire is significantly lower—only 28%.
Those who “tend not to trust” him mostly expect Zelenskyy to leave politics without any prosecution. But among those who “do not trust him at all,” 64% insist specifically on criminal prosecution.
“A significant portion of Ukrainians trust Zelenskyy, but as the country’s leader in the context of an existential war. At the same time, they are looking forward to a new generation of leaders—after the war,” noted KMIS Director Anton Hrushetskyi.
As a reminder, Zelenskyy’s approval rating dropped significantly in April.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s approval rating fell to its lowest level since the start of his presidency.
Prior to this, Donald Trump’s approval rating had dropped to a critical 36%, a significant departure from the start of his term, when the U.S. president had 47%.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance has emerged as the leading conservative contender for the upcoming presidential election.
