Zelensky trust rating rises 14 points after Trump pressure campaign, poll finds

KIIS survey shows most Ukrainians backed the president in early October despite deep domestic criticism

By LineZotpaper

Published20 October 2026

Read Time3 min

President Volodymyr Zelensky's trust rating rose by 14 percentage points after U.S. President Donald Trump began his pressure campaign against Ukraine, according to a Kyiv International Institute of Sociology poll published on Oct. 20, as relations between Kyiv and Washington worsen over strikes on Russian oil refineries.

The Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) surveyed 1,031 Ukrainians aged 18 and older by computer-assisted telephone interviews using a random sample of cell phone numbers across regions of Ukraine under government control. Between Oct. 8 and 9, 43% of respondents trusted Zelensky and 52% did not. Between Oct. 10 and 16, after Trump's pressure campaign had begun, trust rose to 57% while distrust fell to 39%.

Across the full survey period, from Oct. 8 to 16, 54% said they trusted the president, including 22% who trusted him completely and 32% who trusted him somewhat. At the same time, 41% said they did not trust him, with 24% distrusting him completely and 17% somewhat.

The findings come as relations between Kyiv and Washington deteriorate. Ukraine accuses the U.S. of using military assistance and access to technology to press it to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries, according to the report. Trump has repeatedly criticized Zelensky, saying Ukraine should consider finding someone else to negotiate on its behalf. According to the report, Trump has shifted toward Moscow in what appears to be an effort to lower domestic fuel prices. On Oct. 9, he announced a plan to purchase Russian diesel despite years of U.S. sanctions on Russian energy products, and ordered Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries.

KIIS Executive Director Anton Hrushetskyi said many Ukrainians criticize Zelensky over domestic problems such as corruption in his team and poor personnel decisions, but are quieter when it comes to foreign relations and defense support. "There are indeed many Ukrainians who criticize President Zelensky for the various problems facing Ukraine and Ukrainians," he said. "While Ukrainians may be genuinely outraged by instances of corruption among members of the president's team or by poor personnel decisions, the voices of critics are significantly quieter when it comes to relations with other countries, securing support for the country in the defense sector, and, in general, defending Ukraine's interests on the international stage."

Before Trump's criticism, Zelensky's rating had been tested by major corruption scandals. The overall figures matched those recorded in late August and early September, suggesting confidence in Zelensky had remained largely unchanged over the past month. A similar rally occurred in 2025, when Zelensky's approval rating rose to 68% after his heated exchange with Trump in the Oval Office, after a February 2025 survey found 57% trusted the president.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The poll offers a snapshot of Zelensky's political standing at a moment when Ukraine faces pressure from Washington as well as the war.
The split in public opinion could influence how far Kyiv can compromise with the Trump administration without a domestic backlash.
The standoff over U.S. military assistance, technology access and oil refinery strikes has direct consequences for Ukraine's war effort.

Background

Zelensky has led Ukraine through Russia's full-scale invasion, and wartime polling has previously shown support rallying around him in moments of confrontation. The latest survey was conducted amid worsening relations between Kyiv and Washington, with the United States pressing Ukraine on oil refinery strikes while proposing energy purchases from Russia.

Before the current dispute, Zelensky's ratings had been tested by corruption scandals. The survey's full-period figures were unchanged from late August and early September, suggesting that the rise came specifically during the period of U.S. pressure.

Key Perspectives

Ukrainians who trust Zelensky: A majority of respondents in the full survey period said they trusted the president, and KIIS said critics were quieter on his handling of foreign relations, defense support and Ukraine's international interests.

Ukrainians who distrust Zelensky: About four in ten respondents said they did not trust him. The poll's author noted that many Ukrainians are genuinely outraged by corruption in the president's team and by poor personnel decisions.

The Trump administration: Trump has criticized Zelensky, suggested Ukraine consider a different negotiator, announced a plan to buy Russian diesel, and ordered Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries, according to the report.

What to Watch

Whether Zelensky's trust rating holds in the next KIIS measurement or falls back to previous levels.
How Ukraine responds to U.S. pressure over strikes on Russian oil refineries.
The future of U.S. military assistance and technology access, which Kyiv says is being used as leverage.

Sources

Zelensky's trust rating surges amid Trump's pressure campaign, poll finds · Kyiv Independent

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.

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SupportedZelensky’s trust rating rose 14 percentage points after Trump began his pressure campaign against Ukraine, according to a poll published Oct. 20.Kyiv Independent: “President Volodymyr Zelensky's trust rating rose by 14 percentage points after U.S. President Donald Trump began his pressure campaign against Ukraine, according to a poll published by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on Oct. 20.”
Partly supportedMost Ukrainians backed Zelensky in early October despite deep domestic criticism.Kyiv Independent: “Across the full survey period, from Oct. 8 to 16, 54% of respondents said they trusted Zelensky.”
Partly supportedRelations between Kyiv and Washington were worsening over strikes on Russian oil refineries.Kyiv Independent: “The findings come amid worsening relations between Kyiv and Washington, as Ukraine accuses the U.S. of using military assistance and access to technology to pressure it to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries.”
SupportedTrust rose from 43% on Oct. 8–9 to 57% on Oct. 10–16, while distrust fell from 52% to 39%.Kyiv Independent: “43% of Ukrainians trusted Zelensky between Oct. 8 and 9, while 52% did not. Between Oct. 10 and 16, his trust rating rose to 57%, while the share distrusting him fell to 39%.”
SupportedAcross Oct. 8–16, 54% trusted Zelensky and 41% did not.Kyiv Independent: “Across the full survey period, from Oct. 8 to 16, 54% of respondents said they trusted Zelensky. ... At the same time, 41% said they did not trust the Ukrainian president.”
SupportedKIIS surveyed 1,031 Ukrainians aged 18 and older by computer-assisted telephone interviews using a random sample of cell phone numbers in government-controlled regions.Kyiv Independent: “The latest survey was conducted through computer-assisted telephone interviews using a random sample of cell phone numbers across all regions of Ukraine under government control. KIIS surveyed 1,031 Ukrainian citizens aged 18 and older.”
SupportedUkraine accused the U.S. of using military assistance and access to technology to pressure it to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries.Kyiv Independent: “Ukraine accuses the U.S. of using military assistance and access to technology to pressure it to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries.”
SupportedTrump announced a plan to purchase Russian diesel on Oct. 9 despite years of U.S. sanctions on Russian energy products.Kyiv Independent: “On Oct. 9, he announced a plan to purchase Russian diesel despite years of U.S. sanctions on Russian energy products.”
SupportedTrump ordered Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries.Kyiv Independent: “He also ordered Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries.”
SupportedHrushetskyi said, “There are indeed many Ukrainians who criticize President Zelensky for the various problems facing Ukraine and Ukrainians.”Kyiv Independent: “"There are indeed many Ukrainians who criticize President Zelensky for the various problems facing Ukraine and Ukrainians," KIIS Executive Director Anton Hrushetskyi said.”
SupportedHrushetskyi said critics’ voices are quieter on foreign relations, defense support and defending Ukraine’s interests internationally.Kyiv Independent: “the voices of critics are significantly quieter when it comes to relations with other countries, securing support for the country in the defense sector”
SupportedIn 2025, Zelensky’s approval rating rose to 68% after his Oval Office exchange with Trump, while a February 2025 survey found 57% trusted him.Kyiv Independent: “Zelensky's approval rating rose to 68% following his heated exchange with Trump in the Oval Office. Before the diplomatic dispute, a February 2025 survey found that 57% of Ukrainians trusted the president.”