Most Ukrainian Nationals Don’t Trust Their Own Leaders

Most Ukrainian nationals are disillusioned by the state of affairs in their country and don’t trust their own leaders, suggests a new opinion poll carried out in the country by request of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems headquartered in Washington.

The opinion poll suggests 56 of Ukrainians believe their country is not heading in the right direction, and only 20% contest this point of view. The share of citizens thinking the country is moving in the right direction does not exceed 28% in any of the regions, according to the survey carried out by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology.

Only 32% of Ukrainians said they trusted President Pyotr Poroshenko, and 20% said they trusted Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk. As much as 62% of polled Ukrainians said they did not feel confidence in the president.

As for foreign policy, 49% of Ukrainians said the country needed closer relationship with Europe, only eight percent coming in favor of closer ties with Russia. However, another 19% of Ukrainians believed Kiev should build closer ties both with Europe and with Russia, the pollster said.

Another 14% of polled Ukrainian nationals said Ukraine should not have close relations either with Russia or with Europe. Sixty-four percent confirmed their positive or very positive attitude to European Union leaders, while the US authorities won 54%, according to the survey carried out on September 12-26.

A positive attitude towards the Russian leadership was demonstrated by only 12% of Ukrainians, while 68% said their attitude was negative.

The Kiev International Institute of Sociology calls itself ‘an international non-political non-commercial organization’ declaring contribution in holding ‘free and just elections’ as the aim of its activity. It is financed by the US, Australia, Great Britain, Canada, Japan and some other states. Finance is provided by different organizations, including those of the United Nations. It also functions on donations from private companies and individuals.