For several weeks, there has been an unprecedented level of diplomatic tension between Ukraine and its allies. As a result, international discussions have featured conflicting information about the actual mood in the country. One aspect of these debates is the level of support President Volodymyr Zelensky enjoys among the population. While some claim that President Zelensky is losing support among Ukrainians, others emphasize his continued legitimacy and the trust he maintains among the people.
A new survey conducted among Ukraine’s online population aged 18–64 by National Sample in collaboration with NMS Market Research provides valuable insights into how people in the country perceive their political leadership and future.
According to the survey results, 62% of Ukrainians express trust in President Zelensky, while 27% stated that they do not trust him. Meanwhile, 11% of respondents did not express an opinion.
Zelensky enjoys a high level of trust across demographic groups
Trust in President Zelensky remains relatively stable across different demographic groups. The highest level of support (66.1%) is expressed by young people aged 18–24, but strong support persists across all other age categories as well.
Among educational groups, support is highest among those with secondary education (62.1%), closely followed by respondents with higher education (60.3%). Trust in the president is slightly higher among women (65.9%) than among men (57.7%).
Appreciated qualities and actions of the president
Respondents in the survey identified three main characteristics that they believe best describe Volodymyr Zelensky:
- Patriotic (42.2% of respondents)
- Decisive (39.6% of respondents)
- Confident (35.3% of respondents)
Among the specific actions and decisions that have recently increased public trust in President Zelensky are his negotiations with Donald Trump, his defense of Ukraine’s interests, and his decision to remain in Ukraine during the war.
Top ratings in international diplomacy and crisis management
When evaluating President Zelensky’s actions in specific areas, he received the highest ratings for:
- Meeting with Donald Trump and J.D. Vance in the Oval Office (average rating of 68 out of 5, where 5 is the highest score)
- Building and supporting international alliances (64 out of 5)
- Ability to make quick and effective decisions in crisis situations (42 out of 5)
- Clarity and consistency in communicating information to the public (33 out of 5)
- Ability to unite the nation and overcome internal divisions (32 out of 5)
The data indicate that the Ukrainian public particularly appreciates President Zelensky’s international diplomatic activities and his ability to lead the country under crisis conditions.
Strong electoral preferences
If a presidential election were to take place, 60.9% of respondents would participate (with 44% certain to vote and 16.9% likely to vote), according to the survey.
Among these potential voters, 39.4% would cast their vote for the incumbent president, Volodymyr Zelensky. His closest competitor, former Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi, would receive the support of 15.4% of voters.
“The results of our survey confirm that, despite more than three years of war with Russia, President Zelensky continues to maintain strong support from the Ukrainian public. His position as the country’s leader in times of crisis remains stable, with the public most appreciating his patriotic approach, decisiveness, and ability to represent Ukrainian interests on the international stage,” commented Tereza Friedrichová, the author of the study from NMS Market Research.
The majority oppose holding elections during the war conflict
The survey clearly shows that the majority of Ukrainian society (58.1%) does not currently support holding presidential elections during a state of war. Only 29.9% of respondents stated that they would support elections during the war, while 12% had no strong opinion on the matter.
However, it is interesting to note that if elections were to be announced, 60.9% of respondents would participate, demonstrating the high level of civic responsibility among Ukrainians even under crisis conditions.
Low support for the U.S. agreement on mining and minerals
Public attitudes toward granting American companies access to rare metal mining in Ukraine are also noteworthy. While nearly half of respondents (45%) express a negative stance on such a move, 20.6% believe it could help Ukraine secure military and financial support from the United States, and 16.3% say it could attract investments and support economic development.
This explains the complex position President Zelensky faces regarding the signing of this agreement and aligns with the positive assessment of his diplomatic efforts.
“In a time when international debates often speculate about the opinions of the Ukrainian public, it is crucial to have reliable and up-to-date data directly from the field. This survey highlights just how complex and dynamic the situation in Ukraine truly is,” said Tomáš Říha, CEO of National Sample.
Research methodology
This survey was conducted on the new Ukrainian research panel platform National Sample in collaboration with the research agency NMS. The sample included 1,020 respondents aged 18 to 64 from all regions fully under Ukrainian control. Data was collected between March 6 and March 12, 2025, using an online questionnaire. The survey has a 95% confidence interval with a margin of error of ±2.8%.
About NMS
NMS Market Research is a research agency with over 20 years of history, operating through offices in Prague, Bratislava, Budapest, and Bangkok. In addition to market research, which it provides to hundreds of clients worldwide, the agency also examines political and social issues. NMS specializes in innovative approaches to market research, helping clients better understand their customers, navigate the market, and see the world in context. The agency is a member of ESOMAR, SIMAR, SAVA, and MSPA.