
Zelensky ‘twice as popular as Trump in US'
The Ukrainian leader enjoys 18 per cent net favourability, with the US president at 16 per cent net unfavourability.
The Gallup poll of 1,002 people's opinions towards 14 'newsmakers' places Mr Zelensky in second place when it comes to favourability, behind the recently appointed Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff. Pope Leo's net favourability stands at 46 per cent.
Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky's relationship has suffered a series of setbacks since the US leader took office for a second time. The US president had vowed to end the Ukraine conflict on 'day one' of his presidency, but has become increasingly frustrated with both sides as his repeated efforts to bring Russia's attacks to an end have failed.
In an Oval Office meeting in February, the US president, along with JD Vance, the vice-president, pointedly criticised the Ukrainian leader and accused him of ingratitude towards the US.
Favourability towards the pair has fallen along partisan lines. Mr Zelensky is seen 68 per cent net positively by Democrats and 23 per cent net negatively by Republicans, whereas Mr Trump is 91 per cent net negative among Democrats and 86 per cent net positive for Republicans.
In recent weeks, Mr Trump has taken a more strident stance towards Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, stationing two nuclear submarines closer to Russia while threatening him with sanctions and tariffs.
Bernie Sanders, the Vermont senator, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the New York congresswoman, rank third to fifth. Only Mr Sanders has net positive popularity.
Elon Musk, the Tesla CEO and former Department of Government Efficiency chief, emerged as the least popular in the survey with a -18 per cent net approval rating.
Net favourability, calculated by subtracting the percentage with unfavourable views from the percentage with favourable views, is the most effective method to compare public sentiment towards more-and-less known figures, according to Gallup.
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