Editor’s Note: The approval rating of President Volodymyr Zelensky fell from 73% in September to 49% in late January. We asked people on the street in Kyiv why Zelensky’s rating is falling.
Oleksandr Halenko
university professor
“I didn’t trust him from the very beginning. People can taste lies and a long-term relationship can’t be based on fiction. He promised low tariffs and that the ‘era of poverty’ would end. People are still waiting for that.”
Inessa Makarova
retiree
“Because people expected more from him. We want improvements but he can’t deliver it as fast as we want. Everyone wants peace. But it’s not so easy to bring it to everybody in Ukraine. His work is very hard. We need time and patience.”
Eva Myshchenko
philosophy student
“I think it happened after he met with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin. And also many thought that he is a people’s president. But in fact, he just wants power.”
Andriy Prokopyk
lawyer
“Because everything he does exists only on paper: promises, public policy. All his so-called innovation is nonsense. He offered empty promises. Moreover, he has a very controversial team. I think that his lawmakers and ministers aren’t qualified for their jobs. His sham is slowly becoming visible and people start to notice that.”
Lubov Kuzminska
university professor
“Because his words don’t match his actions. For example, he promised that teachers would be paid $4,000 a month. I think he just doesn’t feel Ukraine, because he has no experience in politics. Though, I think he wants to do something good for us.”
