Survey: More Ukrainians See Trump As An Enemy Than A Friend — 73% Still Trust Americans

At the NATO summit in Türkiye on July 8, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump described his relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "very good," adding that Ukraine has "such great people." Public warmth in that meeting contrasts with private remarks and policy moves that have raised concern in Kyiv.

Key Findings From a Nationwide Poll

To understand how ordinary Ukrainians view Mr. Trump and the broader American role in the war with Russia, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology conducted a computer-aided telephone survey of 1,801 adults across government-controlled Ukraine from June 9–26, 2026. The survey reveals a clear distinction between opinions of the U.S. president and the American people.

Main results: Only 17% of respondents called Donald Trump a friend of Ukraine, while more than twice that share viewed him as an enemy. Almost one-quarter described him as "a bit of both," and a similar proportion said they didn’t know.

Views on U.S. Diplomacy and Envoys

Ukrainians expressed low confidence in Trump’s envoys. When asked about the U.S. team negotiating with Vladimir Putin, roughly one-third said they had some confidence; 57% reported no confidence in envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, and only 2% expressed high confidence in U.S.-led negotiations.

Context: Policy Shifts and Regional Priorities

Respondents’ attitudes were shaped by recent U.S. policy changes. Since Trump returned to office, Washington has reduced direct military aid to Kyiv and a promised US$400 million package had not been released at the time of the survey. At the same time, the U.S. continues to provide intelligence used by Kyiv and maintains sanctions on Russia, albeit with some recent waivers.

Events in the Middle East also affected perceptions. After U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, 2026, many Patriot missile systems that Ukrainian officials said were needed to defend against Russian attacks were diverted to the Middle East. Ukrainian air-defence stocks fell, more Russian missiles penetrated defences, and June saw the highest number of civilian deaths in three years — a development Kyiv leaders said undercut confidence in Washington’s European focus.

Attitudes Toward The United States And Americans

Despite low ratings for the administration and its envoys, Ukrainians continue to hold Americans in high regard. Only 7% said they felt positively about the U.S. role in world affairs, 26% said they felt negatively, and 62% reported mixed feelings. Yet 73% of respondents called Americans in general friends of Ukraine, while just 4% labeled them enemies and 11% said "a bit of both."

Implications

These findings suggest that many Ukrainians can distinguish between the policies of current U.S. leadership and American people more broadly. That gap may offer Washington an opening to rebuild credibility with Kyiv — if U.S. leaders choose to pursue it.

Methodology: Computer-assisted telephone interviews with 1,801 adults in government-controlled Ukraine, June 9–26, 2026, carried out by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology.

Authors: Gerard Toal (Virginia Tech); John O'Loughlin (University of Colorado Boulder); Sarah Wilson Sokhey (University of Colorado Boulder). This article is republished from The Conversation.