Trump-Vance ambush boosts Zelensky's popularity in Ukraine

LondonUkrainians' confidence in President Volodymyr Zelensky has improved by an average of 10 points over the past three weeks and 11 since he took office. suffered an ambush at the White House last Friday at the hands of Donald Trump and the number 2 of the Republican administration, JD Vance. This is emerges from the survey published this Friday The survey was conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIISK), which disseminates data collected between February 14 and March 4.

The Oval Office meeting took place on February 28. Thus, 67% of the population trusts the president. On February 4, only 57% trusted him. At the peak of the sample period, March 1-4, the score was 68%. The survey was conducted among 1,029 people over the age of 18 and residing in Kyiv-controlled territory.

In September 2019, Zelensky's approval rating was 80%. At the time of the meeting, 67% of the population trusts the president. invasion, in February 2022, had fallen to 52%. However, by May of the same year it had risen to 90%. Since then, with fluctuations, it has steadily fallen to 52% in December of last year, the lowest support during all this time.

Although in all regions of Ukraine the situation is quite similar, and the balance of trust-distrust is positive, the indices are slightly lower in the east of the country. But also in this region, the closest to the Donbas front and the Russian border, 60% of the population trust Zelensky while 36% do not trust him. In the other regions (west, center, south), between 66% and 69% trust him, while between 28% and 31% do not. Despite the special circumstances in which the sample is being developed, with the country at war for three years, the Institute considers that "the results obtained remain highly representative and allow a fairly reliable analysis of the mood" of the citizens.

Trump, therefore, has managed to boost support for Zelensky, according to the data of the Institute. According to Anton Gruixetski, director of the IISK, the main reason for the increase in confidence in Zelensky "is not Personal attacks against the presidentIn this regard, Gruixetski says that "Ukrainians perceive the rhetoric of the new US administration as an attack on Ukraine and Ukrainians." Trump's claims that Ukraine supposedly "provoked" Russia or is responsible for the invasion, or that Russia should not be the US vote "against" a resolution at the United Nations, are completely contrary to the general opinion of Ukrainian public. in different international forums He has attended the meeting since his trip to Washington. "The population wants peace, but the evidence shows that the absolute majority of the country is against peace at any price," says Gruixetsky. Ukrainians are flexible and "are ready even for painful compromises, but not for a compromise that amounts to capitulation." "Ukraine maintains the will to fight and will continue to do so despite everything," concludes the director of the IISK.

The effects of the withdrawal of US support

But the reality of Russia's relentless attacks, and the withdrawal of US support, prevails. Ukraine has suffered another major offensive by Russian missiles and drones overnight, which have hit the cities of Odessa and Kharkiv in particular and injured at least 18 people, including four children. The country's energy infrastructure has also been badly hit. Tonight's attack was the first such Russian attack since the United States cut off its military and intelligence assistance.

Analysts say it is too early to determine whether the loss of US early warning and detection data has helped the missiles reach their targets. However, this lack of support could undoubtedly make the difference, leading to more Ukrainian casualties.

Next week Ukrainian and American negotiators will sit down to discuss what has been called the framework of a truce agreement, which would involve the signing of a minerals pact, which was due to be ratified last Friday. The United States has been Pressuring Ukraine to make all kinds of concessions, while they have not so far made similar demands of Russian President Vladimir Putin, at least publicly.