Trust in U.S., West declines among Ukrainians - survey

Hrushetskyi stated this on the Espreso TV channel.

“The level of trust in the United States and the West has decreased. This is now happening not so much because of those who distrust these institutions and countries, but more due to those who have an undefined stance. That is, in some areas, we trust them, in others, we do not, and we lack a clearly formed opinion. Not long ago, we had stronger confidence in these institutions. In other words, skepticism about the West and the United States is growing, and the reasons for this decline are fairly understandable,” Hrushetskyi emphasized.

According to the KIIS executive director, Ukrainians acknowledge their critical dependence on the West and the United States and are deeply grateful for the assistance provided. However, they also recognize that much of this aid has been delivered untimely or with significant delays.

“If two years ago, only 15% of Ukrainians believed that the West wanted an unfair peace for Ukraine, now nearly 40% share this view. This has led to a decline in trust, as many Ukrainians feel that the West does not want Ukraine to achieve victory or is pursuing a formula of ‘not letting Ukraine lose but also not letting it win.’ This sentiment was particularly evident in 2024. Currently, Ukrainians are attempting to adopt a more pragmatic perspective,” Hrushetskyi added.

• According to a survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), 46% of Ukrainians believe that NATO membership is more important than joining the European Union.