Americans’ Approval of Zelenskyy Declines, Yet Support for Ukraine Aid Remains Strong
As Ukraine marks its fourth year embroiled in conflict with Russia, a recent Fox News Poll reveals a notable decrease in American approval of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, despite this waning popularity, a majority of U.S. voters continue to endorse providing financial assistance to Ukraine.
The Fox News survey, conducted between March 14-17, 2025, and released on Thursday, was conducted before President Donald Trump’s sequential phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Zelenskyy on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. During these calls, the foreign leaders tentatively agreed to a limited ceasefire, though negotiations remain ongoing.
The poll highlights a significant shift in public sentiment regarding Zelenskyy. Currently, 56% of U.S. voters approve of his response to the Russian invasion. This figure represents a substantial 18-percentage-point decline from the 74% approval rating recorded in February 2023 (the last time Fox News posed the question), and a stark 20-point drop since the war’s outbreak in March 2022, when his approval stood at 76%.
The most significant factor contributing to this decline is a dramatic 42-point decrease in approval among Republicans. In 2022, 76% of Republicans approved of Zelenskyy’s handling of the situation, compared to only 34% today. Independents also registered a decrease in approval, albeit a smaller one, dropping by 9 points. Democrats, on the other hand, have remained largely consistent, with roughly 8 in 10 continuing to approve of Zelenskyy’s actions.
Despite the dip in Zelenskyy’s approval rating, a majority of Americans still support providing financial aid to Ukraine. Fifty-six percent of voters favor continuing financial aid to the Ukrainians. This figure remains unchanged since last year but is down 7 points from a high of 63% in January 2023.
Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts the Fox News Poll in collaboration with Democrat Chris Anderson, attributes the declining Republican support for U.S. assistance to Ukraine to the new president and vice president’s advocacy for a ceasefire and their conditional support of Zelenskyy. He contends that elite cues significantly influence partisan opinion.
The poll also examined American sentiment toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Half of voters, 50%, approve of the U.S. providing financial aid to the Israeli government for its military, down 2 points from last June and 10 points from November 2023, which was just weeks after the Hamas attack.
Regarding the conflict itself, 55% side more with the Israelis than the Palestinians, about where it was in January (54%). However, support for Israel has been on a steady decline since the start of the war in October 2023, when 68% favored the Israelis. Conversely, support for the Palestinians has nearly doubled, with 32% backing them now, compared to 18% in 2023.
A significant divergence exists between Democrats and Republicans on this issue. Just a third of Democrats back the Israelis (34%), while half support the Palestinians (50%), a reversal from the start of the war when 6 in 10 supported the Israelis (59%) and a quarter the Palestinians (25%). Support for Israel has mostly held steady among Republicans (77% now, 79% October 2023) and Independents (53%, 58%).
The poll also explored American attitudes toward overall U.S. spending on humanitarian foreign aid. Voters are divided on this issue, with 36% wanting to maintain the same level as last year, 39% advocating for a decrease, and 23% favoring an increase.
The survey further assessed President Trump’s handling of foreign affairs. The poll revealed that Trump’s job ratings are net negative on various international issues. His job ratings are net negative by 5 points on his handling of Israel (45% approve, 50% disapprove), by 7 points on China, by 8 points on Mexico, by 10 points on Ukraine, by 16 points on Russia, and by 23 points on Canada.
Interestingly, Trump’s job approval numbers on Russia have improved by 5 points since Fox last asked the question (from 35% in April 2018 to 40% today), while on China they have declined by 4 points (49% in April 2017 to 45% today).
Despite these mixed results on foreign policy, President Trump’s overall job approval rating stands at 49%, matching a record high.
The Fox News survey, conducted from March 14-17, 2025, under the direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), included interviews with a sample of 994 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file. Respondents were interviewed via landlines (123) and cellphones (648) or completed the survey online after receiving a text (223). The results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points. The margin of sampling error is higher for subgroups. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education, and area variables to ensure the demographics of respondents are representative of the registered voter population. Sources for developing weight targets include the American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis, and voter file data.
In summary, the Fox News Poll paints a complex picture of American public opinion on foreign policy. While approval of President Zelenskyy has declined, support for providing financial aid to Ukraine remains strong. The poll also reveals a shifting landscape in attitudes toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and divisions over U.S. spending on humanitarian foreign aid. Finally, President Trump’s handling of foreign affairs receives mixed reviews, even as his overall job approval rating reaches a record high.
