Zelenskyy’s approval jumps after Trump’s ‘dictator’ jab, poll shows Ukraine rallies behind its president

Trump branded Zelenskyy a “dictator”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s approval ranking has surged by 10 per cent factors following a verbal assault from US President Donald Trump, in keeping with a brand new opinion poll launched Friday.
The Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) discovered that 67% of Ukrainians now belief Zelenskyy—up from 57% a month in the past—after Trump branded him a “dictator” and falsely claimed his approval stood at simply “four percent,” reported AFP.

A confrontation turns right into a present of help

The poll was performed between February 14 and March 4, a interval that noticed tensions between Zelenskyy and Trump escalate dramatically. The feud reached its peak on February 28, when Trump and Vice President JD Vance reportedly berated Zelenskyy within the Oval Office earlier than dismissing him with out finalizing a vital minerals deal. Days later, Trump escalated his stance, suspending U.S. army support to Ukraine on March 3.
Yet, as an alternative of weakening Zelenskyy’s standing, the assaults seem to have consolidated help for him at dwelling. Anton Grushetsky, govt director of KIIS, famous that Ukrainians noticed Trump’s feedback as extra than simply private insults—they considered them as an assault on Ukraine itself.
“At least for now, we are witnessing a process of unification of society against the backdrop of new challenges facing Ukraine,” Grushetsky stated in an evaluation of the findings.

How Ukraine responded

While Zelenskyy’s help is powerful nationwide, the poll confirmed regional variations: belief was highest in central and western Ukraine, whereas within the east—nearer to Russian-controlled areas—it stood at 60%. Meanwhile, 29% of Ukrainians stated they distrusted him.
The timing of the survey means it doesn’t absolutely replicate the influence of Trump’s newest transfer—the cancellation of U.S. army support. Researchers count on this might additional shift public sentiment within the coming weeks.
For now, Trump’s assaults have given Zelenskyy an sudden enhance—turning a political insult right into a rallying cry for nationwide unity.