Zelenskyy gains more support in Ukraine after spat with Trump

(CLO) After the White House debate on February 28 with US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has seen his domestic approval rating increase sharply, according to the latest survey results.

A Gradus Research poll found that Mr Zelenskyy’s approval rating rose to 49% after his meeting with Mr Trump, up from 28% before. The poll was conducted on March 1 with 1,000 respondents, reflecting the views of residents in major Ukrainian cities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: Facebook/zelenskyy.official

Trump had previously publicly criticized Zelensky, claiming that his approval rating in Ukraine was only 4%. However, most previous polls showed that Zelensky maintained a 50-60% approval rating. After Trump's statement, the number of people intending to vote for Zelensky increased from 17% to 23%.

The White House meeting left a huge impact when Mr Trump openly pressured Mr Zelenskyy to agree to a mineral extraction deal that would benefit the US. When Mr Zelenskyy tried to make a point about national security, Mr Trump sharply warned: "You are gambling with the lives of millions of people. You are gambling with World War III."

After the meeting, Mr. Trump stated on Truth Social that Mr. Zelenskyy was not ready for peace and could only return to the White House if he was willing to negotiate on the US's terms. Meanwhile, Mr. Zelensky posted on X, emphasizing that Ukraine needed a just and lasting peace.

The tension at the meeting led to the cancellation of a joint press conference, raising concerns about the future of US-Ukraine relations. Against this backdrop, Mr. Zelenskyy traveled to the UK to meet with European leaders, who are now pushing for a summit aimed at bridging the gap between Kiev and Washington.

Ngoc Anh (according to Newsweek, CNN)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/president-zelenskyy-duoc-ung-ho-hon-tai-ukraine-sau-cuoc-dau-khau-voi-ong-trump-post336846.html