Second Trump Term Means a New Chapter for Ukraine | Opinion

NEWSWEEK ^ | Jan 22, 2025 | Steve Cortes

[ransomnote]

SNIP

Recent credible polling shows that his prior widespread popularity has been smashed as a war-weary public grows less trusting of his leadership and more suspicious regarding rampant corruption in Ukraine. In a large survey taken by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, 52 percent of Ukrainians say they "trust" Zelensky now, down from the 77 percent who trusted him in 2023. The percentage saying they "do not trust" Zelensky has almost doubled over that same time period. Not surprisingly, Zelensky's support is weakest in the eastern and southern parts of the country, where most of the warfighting has unfolded.

SNIP

But the erosion of trust is about more than just the war—it's also about widespread, credible corruption allegations against Zelensky individually and his allies collectively, including the highly controversial Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak. Of course, Ukraine has endured a long and problematic scourge of high-level corruption, harkening back to the Soviet era and persisting into its independence.

For example, well before Zelensky's tenure, the Guardian branded Ukraine "the most corrupt nation in Europe" in 2015. But even for Ukrainians accustomed to a high level of systemic corruption, the abuses alleged against Zelensky and his cronies in the midst of this brutal war spark an understandable resentment.

SNIP

Americans also tire of the outsized commitment to aiding the ongoing war in Ukraine. This trend is especially prominent among Republican voters. In a Pew survey taken just after Trump's November 5 election victory, only 19 percent of GOP voters identify the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a "major threat" to American interests, down from the 51 percent who did when the invasion first happened.

[Paladin2]

Cortez, STILL PNG @ Warroom.

[KC_Conspirator]

Oh noes, no forever war and deaths stacking based on Russia, Russia, Russia lies. Newsweak indeed.

[Paul R.]

Zelenskyy may well get the boot, but, it only requires about 10% of the population with some modest support from the Euro’s to maintain a guerilla / asymmetrical war that Russia can only win with brutality that far exceeds anything seen so far, IF it can be won at all. (Recent big power experiences in various countries are not encouraging.)

[tennmountainman]

Bump.