You've probably heard the rumors. Maybe you saw a clip on social media or heard a soundbite from a political rally claiming that Volodymyr Zelensky’s support in Ukraine has basically evaporated. There was even that moment where Donald Trump claimed the Ukrainian president was sitting at a measly 4%.
Honestly? That’s just not true.
But it’s also not the 90% "rockstar" era of 2022 anymore. The reality of what is Zelensky approval rating right now is a lot more complicated than a single number. It’s a story of a country that is exhausted, a leader who has made some unpopular domestic calls, and a population that still, despite everything, doesn't see a better alternative while the tanks are still rolling.
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The Raw Numbers: What the Polls Actually Say
If you look at the most recent data from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) and Gallup, the numbers tell a story of "stabilized decline."
As of late 2025 and moving into early 2026, Zelensky’s trust rating has been hovering around 60% to 65%. Specifically, a KIIS poll from December 2025 showed 61% of Ukrainians trust him. Gallup’s August 2025 data put his approval at 67%.
Compare that to the 90% he had right after the 2022 invasion. It’s a big drop. But compare it to his predecessor, Petro Poroshenko, or almost any Western leader currently in office, and it’s still remarkably high.
- Peak War Support (2022): 84% - 90%
- The 2024 Slump: 52% (his lowest wartime point)
- Current Standing (Early 2026): ~63%
It's weirdly consistent. Whenever things get really dire or a new international scandal pops up, he dips. Then, he usually bounces back a bit. In early December 2025, his numbers actually ticked up from 49% to 63% in just a few weeks. Why? Likely because of fresh security commitments from Europe or a "rally 'round the flag" effect after specific Russian escalations.
Why did the "4% Approval" rumor spread?
It’s mostly a mix of bad math and disinformation. Russian-aligned Telegram channels love to take "electoral preference" polls—where people are asked who they’d vote for in a hypothetical election with 10 different candidates—and present them as "approval ratings."
In a crowded field with military heroes like Valerii Zaluzhny, Zelensky’s voting share might only be 25% or 30%. But that’s not an approval rating. That’s just a multi-candidate race. Calling that a 4% approval rating is like saying a chef is hated because only 10% of people chose his steak over the 50 other items on the menu.
The Friction Points: Why the Shine is Wearing Off
Being a wartime president is a thankless job once the "honeymoon of resistance" ends. Ukrainians are tired. You can feel it in the air in Kyiv or Lviv.
One of the biggest hits to the Zelensky approval rating lately didn't come from the battlefield, but from the parliament. In mid-2025, Zelensky signed Law No. 12414. It was a controversial bill that critics say weakened the independence of anti-corruption bodies.
For Ukrainians, corruption isn't just a political talking point; it's an existential threat. They feel that if they're sacrificing everything at the front, the government back home better be clean. When Zelensky defended the bill as a way to "root out Russian influence," many didn't buy it. His trust rating in Western Ukraine—traditionally his strongest base—tanked from 73% to 55% almost overnight after that.
Then there's the "dictator" talk. Because Ukraine is under martial law, elections have been postponed. Zelensky’s term technically ended in May 2024. While the vast majority of Ukrainians (around 62%) agree that holding elections during a war is a terrible, dangerous idea, the lack of a vote gives critics a lot of ammo. It creates this low-level hum of "is he overstaying?" that eats away at his numbers.
The Zaluzhny Factor
You can't talk about Zelensky’s popularity without talking about the guys in uniform.
The military remains the most trusted institution in Ukraine. Period. When Zelensky removed General Valerii Zaluzhny from his post as Commander-in-Chief and sent him off to be an ambassador in London, it left a sour taste in many mouths.
Recent head-to-head polls—if an election were held today—show some sobering stats:
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- Zelensky vs. Kyrylo Budanov (Intel Chief): A dead heat (around 32% each).
- Zelensky vs. Valerii Zaluzhny: Zelensky loses significantly, with Zaluzhny pulling over 40% to Zelensky’s 26%.
People still trust Zelensky to represent them to the world, but they are increasingly looking to military leaders for domestic "strength."
The "Endurance" Gap
There is a fascinating split in how Ukrainians view their country versus their leader. While about 60% trust Zelensky, only about 35% say they have confidence in the national government as a whole.
Basically, people like the captain, but they aren't so sure about the crew.
Despite the fatigue, the "will to fight" hasn't actually broken. About 63% of Ukrainians say they are ready to endure the war for "as long as it takes." That’s the real bedrock of Zelensky’s support. As long as he is seen as the only guy who can keep the Western weapons flowing and the Russian army at bay, his floor is likely around 50%.
What Happens in 2026?
We are now in a phase of the war where "stability" is the goal. Zelensky has transitioned from the "hero in the olive tee" to a "wartime administrator."
To keep his numbers from sliding into the "danger zone" (below 50%), he has to balance three impossible things:
- The Anti-Corruption Fight: He has to prove he’s not protecting "his guys."
- The Mobilization Problem: New draft laws are never popular. Ever.
- The US Relationship: With the shifting political winds in Washington, Zelensky’s ability to "bring home the bacon" is his biggest asset. If the aid stops, the rating likely follows.
The Zelensky approval rating is a fever chart of the war itself. It’s high when there’s hope and low when there’s a grind. But for now, he remains the undisputed center of Ukrainian politics.
Key Takeaways on Zelensky’s Current Standing
If you're trying to make sense of the noise, keep these points in mind:
- Ignore the "4%" claim. It has no basis in any reputable Ukrainian or international sociological study. It’s a talking point, not a statistic.
- Trust vs. Approval. More people "trust" him as a leader than would necessarily "vote" for him in a 20-person race. This is normal in any democracy.
- The 60% Floor. Despite massive "war fatigue" and internal political bickering, Zelensky has maintained a majority trust level for over three years of full-scale war.
- Domestic over Foreign. His biggest threats aren't what he says to the UN, but how he handles corruption and the economy inside Ukraine.
To stay informed on how these numbers shift, you should follow the monthly releases from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) or the Razumkov Centre. These are the "gold standard" for what's actually happening on the ground in Ukraine, as they use boots-on-the-ground polling and mobile RDD (Random Digit Dialing) to reach people even in high-stress areas.