Former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and current Ambassador to London, Valery Zaluzhny, is the most trusted public figure in Ukraine, with 62% of Ukrainians expressing confidence in him, according to a recent survey.
The poll, conducted by the Socis Center from March 14-23, 2025, surveyed Ukrainians across government-controlled areas, excluding Russian-occupied territories. The study used face-to-face interviews and has a statistical margin of error of 2.6%.
President Volodymyr Zelensky ranked second in the trust rating, with 50.5% of respondents expressing confidence in him, while 42.8% said they do not trust him. Meanwhile, 29.7% of respondents said they do not trust Zaluzhny.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian military’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), placed third, with 46.2% of respondents trusting him and 38.8% expressing distrust.
Andriy Biletsky, commander of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, received 37.2% trust and 39.6% distrust.
RBC-Ukraine media outlet previously reported on speculation that Zaluzhny might join Zelensky’s party or opt out of politics entirely. When asked about these rumors, Zaluzhny responded:
“While the war continues, our focus must be on saving the country, not elections. I do not comment on rumors.”
According to leading Ukrainian sociological firms, Zelensky’s approval rating has risen significantly since the beginning of 2025, coinciding with Donald Trump’s shift in US policy towards Ukraine. However, Zaluzhny’s trust rating has remained consistently higher than Zelensky’s for more than a year.
A separate survey by Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) in March found that 69% of Ukrainians trust Zelensky, though Zaluzhny was not included in that poll.
Meanwhile, David Arakhamia, head of Ukraine’s ruling Servant of the People party, denied reports of a meeting in the President’s Office about election preparations.
Speaking to Suspilne on March 31, he insisted no such meeting took place, countering The Economist’s claim that elections could be held as early as July.
Deputy Head of the Central Election Commission Serhii Dubovyk confirmed elections will occur post-martial law but stressed a transition period is needed to rebuild infrastructure and adapt legislation, including creating new overseas polling stations.
By law, parliamentary elections must be held 60 days after martial law ends, and presidential elections within 90 days. However, the CEC argues this timeline is too short given Ukraine’s postwar recovery needs.
Both Russian leader Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump have questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy, though Trump recently condemned Putin’s call to oust him. Zelensky’s political opponents join his supporters in opposing elections while the war continues and millions remain displaced.