Zelenskyy Trust Ratings Rebound to 62 Percent as Ukrainians Reject Wartime Elections Amid Territorial Tensions

New KIIS poll shows 69% of Ukrainians want elections only after a final peace deal. President Zelenskyy's trust rating recovers to 62% amid war.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 18, 2026, 4:35 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS)

A Resilient Mandate Amidst Strategic Pressures

The latest data from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology indicates a notable recovery in public confidence for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with trust levels climbing back to 62% in early March 2026. This follows a volatile period between January and February where trust dipped to 53%, driven largely by domestic anxieties regarding potential military withdrawals from the Donetsk region. According to the KIIS report, the current "trust-distrust balance" stands at a positive 30%, suggesting that the administration has successfully navigated a period of intense situational demoralization to consolidate its standing with the electorate.

Territorial Integrity as a Pillar of Confidence

The fluctuations in presidential trust appear deeply tethered to the government's stance on territorial concessions. Analysis shows that the sharpest decline in support earlier this year occurred among citizens who were open to withdrawing troops from Donetsk in exchange for security guarantees. However, as of March, trust among those who categorically reject such proposals has surged to 70%, effectively returning to levels seen at the start of the year. This suggests that the president’s core support base remains anchored by a segment of the population that prioritizes territorial sovereignty over immediate, conditional ceasefires.

The Majority Preference for Wartime Continuity

Despite the protracted nature of the conflict, there is a striking lack of appetite for immediate democratic turnover. Only 12% of Ukrainians currently believe that national elections should be conducted before the cessation of hostilities, a figure that has remained largely stagnant throughout 2025. This consensus transcends even those who are critical of the current administration, indicating a broad national agreement that the complexities of wartime logistics and security make the execution of a fair and transparent election cycle nearly impossible under current conditions.