More than half of Ukrainians say Zelensky should not run for president again, poll says

A recent poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) has revealed that a majority of Ukrainians, 53%, believe President Volodymyr Zelensky should not seek a second term in office. Only 42% of respondents think Zelensky should run for re-election, while 5% were undecided. This shift in public opinion comes as the Ukrainian constitution prohibits elections during martial law, which was declared following Russia's invasion in 2022.

The decline in support for Zelensky's second term is evident as compared to December 2023, when 59% of respondents favored him running again, compared to 45% in December 2025. The survey also highlights the growing scrutiny Zelensky faces over corruption scandals involving his inner circle and unexpected personnel decisions, such as the firing of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

Despite these challenges, Zelensky remains one of the top contenders in future elections, alongside Fedorov and Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the former military chief and current ambassador to the U.K.

Interestingly, 71% of Ukrainians oppose holding presidential elections during wartime, a viewpoint that was briefly considered by Fedorov after his dismissal in August, which led to nationwide protests. The poll also indicates that 45% of Ukrainians believe their country's affairs are heading in the wrong direction, while 40% think they are moving in the right direction.

Furthermore, 44% of respondents expressed disappointment in Zelensky's current government, and 33% felt shame towards it. Both of these sentiments have increased since the KIIS's last survey in December 2025. Anton Hrushetskyi, executive director of KIIS, commented that there is a significant demand for renewing political elites in Ukrainian society, a sentiment that has grown more pronounced in recent years.

The survey was conducted between September 12 and 21, with 1,002 respondents living in government-controlled territories.