Ukrainians’ trust ratings for the U.S. and NATO have sharply fallen over the year

Ukrainians’ trust in the United States and NATO has dropped sharply since December 2024, according to a survey by the independent Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS).

Trust in the U.S. nearly halved over the year: in December 2025, only 21% of respondents said they trusted the United States, compared with 41% in December 2024. In 2025, almost half of Ukrainians (48%) said they did not trust the U.S., whereas in 2024 about a quarter (24%) said so.

NATO is trusted by 34% of respondents in 2025 (43% in 2024). Forty-one percent said they do not trust the alliance (25% in 2024).

At the same time, trust in the European Union remained at the same level—49%. Twenty-three percent of respondents said they do not trust Europeans.

KIIS conducted the survey from November 26 to December 13, 2025, using telephone interviews. A total of 547 respondents aged 18 and over took part.

Meanwhile, trust in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky increased: in December, 61% of respondents said they trusted him, compared with 60% in early October. The share who do not trust the president also fell—from 35% in October to 32% in December.

According to KIIS Executive Director Anton Hrushetskyi, amid the corruption scandal, trust in the president may have dropped by about 10%, but recovered to its previous level after Zelensky dismissed his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, and pressure from the United States intensified.

Most respondents (57%) believe presidential elections should be held only after the conflict ends completely. In September, 63% held this view. Another quarter of respondents support holding elections if there is a ceasefire and Ukraine receives security guarantees (22% in September).

At the end of November, The Economist, citing public opinion polling, wrote that Ukrainians’ trust in Zelensky had halved amid the corruption scandal, though the magazine did not provide specific figures.