UKRAINE, Oct. 21 — The number of Ukrainians who believe that the USA is pressuring Ukraine to agree to the unjust peace with Russia has increased from 38% in August to 52% in October, according to the the polls of Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS). 

The KIIS analysts say that although Ukrainians remain generally supportive of partnership with the West, the downward trend in trust may influence public sentiment regarding the further course of the war with Russia.

KIIS notes that the proportion of citizens who do not believe in US support has increased because of the decreasing number of those whose views on US policy were uncertain in August. 

KIIS analysts also say that perception of the US policy has been very dynamic this year. In March only 24% of respondents considered the US a reliable ally of Ukraine, the lowest level of positive perception of US policy during the years of Russia’s full-scale war. 

By the beginning of August, the share of those who considered the US a trusted ally had grown to 42%. At that time, 38% of respondents critically assessed US policy, and one in five (19%) were unable to answer whether they considered the US a reliable ally.

At the same time, the number of those who believe that Europe’s support is weakening and forcing Ukraine to make concessions with Russia has increased to 38%, compared with 27% in August. Still, 58% of respondents are confident that Europe supports Ukraine and wants to end the war fairly. 

The survey was conducted from September 19 to October 5 based on a random sample of mobile phone numbers in all regions of Ukraine (territory controlled by the Ukrainian government). A total of 1,008 respondents were interviewed

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