**Ukrainian Trust in Zelensky Drops to 52%**
A recent survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) found that only 52% of Ukrainians trust President Volodymyr Zelensky. This is a drop of seven percentage points from October and 12 points from February.
The poll was conducted between December 2 and 17 last year, just as Russia‘s war nears its third anniversary. Despite this, most Ukrainians still trust Zelensky to lead the country through the crisis.
**Regional Trust in Zelensky Varies**
However, the level of trust varies depending on the region. In western Ukraine, 60% of people trust Zelensky, while in central Ukraine, it’s 52%. But in southern and eastern Ukraine, where Russia’s war has had a bigger impact, only 46% and 42% of people respectively trust the president.
**Growth in Pessimism**
Other recent surveys have found that there is growing pessimism among Ukrainians about the progress of the war. A separate KIIS survey from December found that nearly 40% of respondents are open to territorial concessions for peace, up from 19% a year ago.
**Russian Military Advances**
Meanwhile, Russia’s military continues to advance in Ukraine’s east. The Ukrainian army has reported 218 clashes over the past day, with significant Russian losses.
In one notable incident, a Ukrainian-operated jet shot down six Russian cruise missiles during a single mission in December. Two Russian anti-missile systems and one anti-aircraft vehicle were also damaged or destroyed in an attack on January 6.
**International Reaction**
The international community is also taking note of the situation. US President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to bring Kyiv and Moscow to the negotiating table for peace talks in 2025.