A recent survey reveals that over 44% of Ukrainians trust President-elect Donald Trump, a figure that surpasses support in other European countries. This data, from a New Europe Center poll, signals expectations that Trump will take a more decisive approach to ending the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The survey, conducted from November 15-27 by Info Sapiens with 1,000 respondents, shows a stark contrast between Trump’s popularity in Ukraine and his ratings elsewhere in Europe. Hungary, with 37% trust, trails behind Ukraine, while only 16% of French and 30% of British respondents expressed confidence in the president-elect. The survey has a margin of error of 3.1%.
Ukrainian confidence in Trump may stem from his promises to prioritize ending the war with Russia. On Sunday, Trump called for an immediate ceasefire, urging both Ukraine and Russia to begin negotiations and end “the madness” of the war. These remarks followed his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris, marking their first in-person discussions since the election.
In comparison, President Joe Biden’s trust ratings in Ukraine have significantly declined, as shown by the New Europe Center’s previous polls. Ukrainian trust in Biden dropped sharply, along with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, highlighting dissatisfaction with current leadership in addressing the war.
Despite this, a poll from last year shows a reversal in sentiment, where Biden was favored by 78.1% of Ukrainians, with only 10.1% sympathizing with Trump. The shift in attitudes may reflect growing disillusionment with Biden’s handling of the war, further boosting Trump’s standing in Ukraine.
