Majority of Ukrainians continue to trust president – KIIS survey

As of early March 2026, the level of trust in the current President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stands at 62%, according to results of a poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS).

"The level of distrust is 32%, and the balance of trust-distrust was +30%," the report on the survey results says.

For comparison, as of late January and mid-February 2026, the level of trust in the president fluctuated. Between January and February, the trust level decreased noticeably from 61% to 53%. At the same time, the share of those who distrusted him rose from 33% to 41%.

Analysis showed that the most significant decrease in trust occurred not among specific demographic categories, but among those who were ready to approve the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donetsk region in exchange for security guarantees. Among those who easily agreed to such a demand, trust between late January and mid-February fell from 30% to 23%. Among those who reluctantly agreed, it fell from 58% to 43%, and among those with an uncertain attitude, from 59% to 42%. Meanwhile, among those who categorically rejected such a proposal, trust was 68% in late January and 64% in mid-February—showing almost no change.

As of March 2026, regarding the proposal on Donetsk region, trust among those who easily agreed was 34%, and among those who reluctantly approved was 54%. Effectively, this was a return to the situation at the end of January. Only among those with an uncertain attitude did lower trust persist (44%), but such respondents are few overall. Among those categorically opposed, trust was 70%, also returning to late January levels. This segment may have partially adapted to the current situation after initial demoralization due to other contextual circumstances.

Additionally, of the 62% who trust the president, 28% "fully" trust him, while the majority (34%) "rather" trust him. This indicates a significant segment more susceptible to situational fluctuations, especially given the dynamic international, military, and domestic environment, KIIS noted.

At the same time, only 12% of Ukrainians (10-12% throughout 2025) believe that elections should be held even before the end of hostilities.

Another 13% believe elections can be held after a ceasefire and receipt of security guarantees. Compared to December 2025, the share of such people decreased from 23%. Thus, there are even fewer people satisfied with elections after a truce with security guarantees.

Instead, from December 2025 to March 2026, the share of those who believe elections should only be held after a final peace agreement and the full end of the war increased from 59% to 69%.

Among those who "rather" distrust the president, 49% believe elections should follow a final peace agreement, while 26% approve of elections after a truce with security guarantees. Even among this group, a minority (22%) insists on elections before the end of hostilities.

Among those who "completely" distrust Zelenskyy, the demand for elections is slightly higher, but still a minority (35%) speaks of elections before the end of hostilities. Meanwhile, 24% speak of elections after a truce with security guarantees, and 34% believe elections should follow a final peace agreement.

The poll was conducted on March 1-8, 2026. Using the method of computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) based on a random sample of mobile phone numbers in all regions of Ukraine (government-controlled territory), 1,003 respondents were interviewed. The survey involved adult citizens (aged 18 and older) living in Ukraine at the time. The sample did not include residents of territories temporarily not controlled by Ukrainian authorities (though some respondents were IDPs), nor were citizens who went abroad after February 24, 2022, surveyed.

Under normal circumstances, the statistical error of such a sample would not exceed 4.1% for indicators close to 50%, 3.5% for indicators close to 25%, 2.5% for indicators close to 10%, and 1.8% for indicators close to 5%. Under war conditions, a certain systematic deviation is added to the specified formal error.