A growing number of Ukrainians are skeptical about US President-elect Donald Trump’s ability to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine war.
According to a December poll conducted by Gradus Research and reported by Reuters, over one-third of Ukrainians hope the conflict will end by the close of 2025, while 31% anticipate that the war will persist for years.
Another 31% were uncertain about the timeline.
Many Ukrainians openly questioned Trump’s potential to mediate peace.
“I don’t place any hope in him. In the end, it depends on us,” a student in central Kyiv told Reuters.
Margarita, a 29-year-old sales manager, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Our fate is in our hands. We cannot rely on anyone else.”
Anna Gorbacheva, a 55-year-old former bakery owner from the Donetsk region now living in Dnipro, expressed cautious optimism but remained pragmatic. “I think Trump has a small chance of achieving peace. But if the Russian army continues advancing, I am prepared to leave my new home,” she said.
“Putin will not stop in Donetsk, Zaporizhia, or Dnipropetrovsk regions. He will go further.”
Government Perspectives on Trump’s Role
In contrast, some Ukrainian officials expressed confidence in Trump’s ability to broker peace.
Oleksandr Merezhko, head of the Verkhovna Rada Foreign Affairs Committee, stated, “Ukraine should become a success story for Trump.” P
resident Volodymyr Zelensky also acknowledged the possibility of the war ending in 2025, citing Trump’s reported efforts to pressure Russia and resolve the conflict.
In January, Trump announced his hope to end the war in Ukraine within six months, a shift from his campaign promise to resolve the conflict within 24 hours of taking office.
However, aides close to the president-elect told Reuters that the 24-hour pledge was largely campaign rhetoric.
