US President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during the FII PRIORITY Miami 2025 Summit (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
President Trump’s damning claims that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s approval rating is just 4 per cent have been slammed by UK and global experts – who insist it’s a huge 63 per cent.
On Tuesday during the signing of Executive Orders at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, Trump claimed of Zelensky: “I hate to say it, but he’s down at a 4 per cent approval rating.”
But studies carried out on the ground by The University of Manchester – alongside George Washington University; Berlin’s Humboldt University and The Kyiv School of Economics – give a dramatically different figure.
Instead their findings into the Ukrainian leader’s popularity among his people reveal he’s at a rock solid 63 per cent.
It comes as Prime Minister Sir felt forced to publicly back Zelensky as a “democratically elected leader” after US President Trump also branded the Ukrainian leader a “dictator” and a “modestly successful comedian”.
Prof Olga Onuch, of the University of Manchester, said: “Trump’s claim is not only factually incorrect, but also irresponsible and anti-democratic – Zelensky remains a fairly popular political leader in .
“Spreading misinformation about his legitimacy directly aids Kremlin propaganda and undermines the Ukrainian people’s right to determine their own future.
“Ukrainians will not react well to attempts to undermine their views and preferences and will rally behind their leaders.”
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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands (Image: PA)
Trump’s remarks come at a critical moment when US and Russian officials are engaging in discussions – without Ukrainian representation – about ending ‘s full-scale invasion.
The US president recently also criticised Zelensky’s handling of the war, saying he had done a “terrible job” and claiming “he refuses to have elections” in .
Zelensky’s five-year term was due to end in May 2024, but elections have been suspended since martial law was declared after ‘s invasion.
Professor Onuch – alongside colleagues around the world including Volodymyr Kulyk of The Kyiv School of Economics – has conducted extensive surveys in since 2014.
Their work, carried out in partnership with the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, offers a clear picture of Ukrainian public sentiment.
According to their latest findings, 63 per cent of Ukrainians approve of Zelensky’s performance as president, a notable increase from the previous year.
Additionally, 74 per cent view him as a patriot, 73 per cent as an intelligent and knowledgeable leader and 65 per cent as a strong figure guiding the country through war.
They claim Trump’s suggestion must hold new elections ignores the fact democratic processes in remain intact, and polls show Zelensky would still heavily be the frontrunner.
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If polls opened tomorrow – standing against rivals like former President Petro Poroshenko and Dmytro Razumkov – Zelensky would command up to 41 per cent of all votes, easily enough to make him president again.
Zelensky’s only strong contender would be Valerii Zaluzhnyi, former Commander in Chief and currently Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK – but he has not publicly voiced any political ambitions.
Professor Olga Onuch added: “Opposition forces will also find a way to come together and show unity – everyone in understands what is as stake – it is an existential matter.
“Ukrainians have been fighting to protect their independence for years, and they will not give up now.”
Their findings demonstrate that still stands with Zelensky, and they say that efforts to delegitimise him only serve the interests of .
Gwendolyn Sasse of Berlin’s Humboldt University said: “By inventing low approval ratings, Trump is preparing the ground for a call for quick elections in – in line with Putin‘s references to Zelensky as an illegitimate president and negotiation partner.
“Our findings show that for Ukrainians, holding elections now is not a preferred priority.”
While Professor Henry Hale of George Washington University added: “When the war ends, we can expect normal political competition to reemerge if remains free.
“But with the Russian threat still looming large, Ukrainians continue to rally strongly around their leader.”