Zelenskyy’s approval rises to 61% in december amid election debate

Public trust in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rose to 61% in December, according to a survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS).

The poll shows that 32% of respondents said they do not trust the president, resulting in a trust–distrust balance of +29 percentage points, a figure broadly in line with levels recorded in early October.

Researchers also identified a clear upward trend in recent weeks. In late November (26-30 November), 49% of respondents said they trusted Zelenskyy, while in early December (1-13 December) that figure climbed to 63%. The highest level of trust was recorded between 8 and 13 December, when 65% of those surveyed expressed confidence in the president, indicating a notable increase in public support toward the end of the year.

The survey comes against the backdrop of renewed international debate over elections in Ukraine during wartime. Earlier, US President Donald Trump claimed that democracy no longer exists in Ukraine, arguing that elections have not been held for an extended period and that the war is being used as a pretext to delay them.

In response, President Zelenskyy said he is ready to participate in elections, but stressed that Ukraine would require security guarantees from the United States to hold a vote within 60 to 90 days. He also said he is awaiting proposals from members of parliament on legislative changes that would allow elections to be conducted under martial law.

At the same time, Zelenskyy emphasized that elections would only be possible if a ceasefire is ensured during the electoral process, underlining that security conditions remain the key prerequisite for holding a nationwide vote.