Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Ukrainians’ Attitudes Toward the United States Show a Decline in Positivity and a Rise in Criticality

The results of a public opinion study conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in cooperation with the information and analytical center Experts Club indicate a noticeable change in Ukrainians’ attitudes toward the United States. Overall, 44.1% of respondents evaluate the country positively, while negative attitudes account for 24.7%. Compared to August 2025, a decrease in positive assessments has been recorded (from 50.3%) alongside an increase in negative ones (from 18.0%), indicating a rise in criticality in perception.

The structure of responses shows that positive attitudes are predominantly moderate in nature. The share of “completely positive” is 9.8%, while “mostly positive” accounts for 34.3%. This means that the positive perception of the United States persists, but it is less pronounced than in the case of certain European partners.

At the same time, the share of neutral assessments is significant — 28.2%, indicating ambiguity in perception and the absence of a clear position among part of the respondents. Such a level of neutrality is typically characteristic of situations where public opinion is in a state of reassessment or reacting to changes in external factors.

The negative segment is substantial and continues to grow. 21.7% of respondents chose the option “mostly negative,” while another 3.0% selected “completely negative.” This means that negative attitudes toward the United States are gradually gaining more weight in the overall structure of assessments. The share of those who were undecided also stands at 3.0%.

The dynamics of changes between 2025 and 2026 indicate a clear trend: a decrease in positivity is accompanied by an increase in negativity. Unlike the stable or positively growing assessments regarding some other countries, in the case of the United States there is a gradual shift in the balance toward a more critical perception.

From an analytical point of view, this means that attitudes toward the United States in Ukrainian society are becoming less unequivocal. A significant share of positivity remains, but it no longer dominates as confidently as before. The growth of negative assessments and the high level of neutrality form a more complex and heterogeneous picture.

“We observe that the indicators regarding the United States are changing more dynamically than in the case of many other countries. This indicates a high sensitivity of public opinion to the political context and the information environment. Under such conditions, even short-term changes can quite quickly influence the balance of assessments,” said Oleksandr Pozniy, Director of the research company Active Group.

Overall, the results of the study show that the United States remains an important, but no longer unequivocally positively perceived partner. The increase in criticality and the decline in the level of support indicate a transition toward a more balanced and differentiated attitude, which may continue to evolve depending on developments in the international situation.

According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, the United States is among the top five largest trading partners of Ukraine, with a trade volume exceeding $5.6 billion. At the same time, imports from the United States significantly exceed Ukrainian exports, forming a negative balance in bilateral trade.

The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center, and the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found at this link on the website of the Experts Club analytical center.

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Most Ukrainians maintain neutral attitude toward India, despite slight shifts in their assessments

Ukrainians’ attitudes toward India are characterized by a predominance of neutral assessments and a relatively low level of clearly defined positive or negative views. According to the results of a sociological survey conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center, 55.5% of respondents described their attitude as neutral, making India one of the countries with the least defined emotional perception among Ukrainians.

The share of positive assessments stands at 17.9%, which is slightly higher than the 16.0% recorded in August 2025. At the same time, negative attitudes have decreased from 26.3% to 23.5%, indicating a certain softening of critical assessments.

In the detailed breakdown of responses, 4.2% of respondents chose the “completely positive” option regarding India, while another 13.8% selected “mostly positive.” In contrast, 19.6% of respondents indicated a “mostly negative” attitude, and 4.0% — “completely negative.” Another 3.0% of respondents were undecided.

The high proportion of neutral assessments indicates India’s limited presence in the Ukrainian information and public sphere. For a significant portion of respondents, this country is not the subject of constant attention or active engagement, which makes it difficult to form a clear position. At the same time, the noticeable decline in negative assessments may indicate a gradual reduction in critical perceptions.

The dynamics of change between August 2025 and March 2026 are relatively moderate. The increase in positive assessments and the simultaneous decrease in negative ones signal a certain balancing of attitudes, but do not alter the overall picture: India remains a country that Ukrainians perceive more neutrally than emotionally.

It is also important to note that the ratio of positive to negative assessments remains close, albeit with a slight preponderance of the negative. This means that in the absence of active informational or economic interaction, public opinion forms slowly and lacks a clearly defined direction.

“Attitudes toward India are a telling example of how a neutral perception forms in cases of limited interaction. When a country lacks a constant presence in the information sphere or practical cooperation projects, public opinion remains vague. “That is why, to strengthen a positive perception, it is important to develop economic and humanitarian ties that create a sense of genuine partnership,” noted Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center.

Thus, the survey results indicate that India does not yet belong to the group of countries with a clearly established positive image in Ukraine. At the same time, current trends open up opportunities for a gradual improvement in perception, provided there is more active interaction between the countries.

According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, India ranks fifteenth in terms of total trade in goods with Ukraine, amounting to $2.62 billion. At the same time, imports of Indian goods are more than double exports from Ukraine, resulting in a negative bilateral trade balance.

The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found at this link on the Experts Club analytical center’s website.

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Ukrainians’ positive attitude toward Spain is growing – Experts Club survey

Spain is among the group of countries that Ukrainians consistently view positively, and recent trends indicate a further strengthening of this image. According to a survey conducted in March 2026 by the research firm Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center, 63.6% of respondents rated their attitude toward Spain as positive, a significant increase from 53.0% in August 2025.

The breakdown of positive perceptions appears quite balanced: 18.9% of respondents reported a completely positive attitude, while another 44.8% described their attitude as mostly positive. This indicates that positive sentiment is not only growing in quantity but also has a fairly deep foundation, as a significant portion of respondents demonstrate a clearly formed positive view of the country.

At the same time, the share of neutral assessments remains relatively high—33.6%. This indicates that for a significant portion of Ukrainians, Spain is not a country that features in their daily news, yet even in this case, its image does not evoke negative associations.

Negative attitudes toward Spain are practically nonexistent: only 0.9% of respondents view it negatively (of these, 0.5% view it mostly negatively and 0.5% view it completely negatively). This figure is one of the lowest among all countries surveyed, underscoring a consistently high level of trust and goodwill.

A comparison with August 2025 also shows not only an increase in positive assessments but also a further decline in negative ones (from 1.0% to 0.9%). This indicates the gradual formation of a stable positive image of Spain in Ukrainian society.

Overall, the data show that Spain is perceived as a friendly and neutral-positive country without significant controversial factors. It is not a central political or security player in the perception of Ukrainians, but at the same time, it is among the countries with a high level of trust.

“In the case of Spain, we see a classic example of a stable positive image that does not depend on situational factors. It is not the most prominent political actor for Ukrainians, but at the same time, it has no negative media coverage. That is precisely why its perception is gradually strengthening and moving into a stable positive zone,” noted Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center.

Thus, Spain occupies an important place in the group of countries with a high level of positive perception, where the key factor is not the intensity of political interaction, but the absence of negative signals and an overall positive image in the public consciousness.

According to a study conducted by the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center based on data from the State Customs Service, Spain ranks fourteenth in total trade volume of goods with Ukraine, with a figure of $2.80 billion. At the same time, Ukraine has a trade surplus with Spain, as exports of Ukrainian goods exceed imports.

The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found at this link on the Experts Club analytical center’s website.

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Ukrainians consistently view France positively, although trend has changed slightly

Ukrainians’ attitude toward France in March 2026 remains one of the highest among the countries surveyed. According to the results of a sociological survey conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center, 74.6% of respondents rate their attitude toward France as positive, which is only slightly lower than the 75.0% recorded in August 2025. At the same time, the share of negative assessments rose from 4.0% to 4.7%, indicating minimal but noticeable shifts in the balance of public opinion.

In the breakdown of responses, 30.3% of respondents indicated a “completely positive” attitude toward France, while another 44.3% described it as “mostly positive.” A neutral position was taken by 20.3% of respondents. Negative assessments remain low: 3.3% answered “mostly negative,” 1.4% — “completely negative,” while 0.5% were undecided.

Despite the overall stability of the indicators, a slight decrease in the share of positive assessments and a simultaneous increase in negative responses may indicate a gradual shift in perception. This does not signify a radical change in attitude, but demonstrates that public opinion is becoming more sensitive to the foreign policy context and the information landscape.

France traditionally remains an important partner for Ukrainians in the political and security spheres, which largely explains the high level of positive perception. At the same time, even minor fluctuations in the figures indicate that Ukrainians’ assessments are not static and may change depending on current events and signals in international politics.

It is also significant that the share of neutral responses remains relatively small compared to other countries. This means that most respondents have formed a clear perception of France, which is typically a sign of the country’s deeper presence in Ukraine’s information and public sphere.

“Attitudes toward France demonstrate an established and stable perception of partnership. Even with minor fluctuations, the overall level of trust remains high, indicating the stability of political and humanitarian ties. It is important for Ukraine to maintain this momentum through practical cooperation projects that reinforce the sense of mutual benefit,” noted Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center.

Thus, the survey results confirm that France remains among the countries with the highest level of positive perception in Ukraine. Minor changes in the indicators do not affect the overall trend but point to the need for constant maintenance of active dialogue and interaction between the countries.

According to a study conducted by the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center based on data from the State Customs Service, France ranks thirteenth in terms of total trade in goods with Ukraine, which amounts to $2.93 billion. Imports from France significantly exceed the volume of Ukrainian exports, resulting in a substantial trade deficit.

The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found at this link on the Experts Club analytical center’s website.

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Ukrainians increasingly viewing Bulgaria in positive light, with negative sentiment on decline

Ukrainians’ attitudes toward Bulgaria in March 2026 show a clear trend toward improvement. According to the results of a sociological survey conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center, 53.8% of respondents rate their attitude toward this country as positive, which is significantly higher compared to 44.3% in August 2025. At the same time, the share of negative assessments decreased from 3.7% to 2.3%, indicating a gradual strengthening of the country’s positive image.

In the breakdown of responses, 14.2% of respondents indicated a “completely positive” attitude toward Bulgaria, while another 39.6% described it as “mostly positive.” The share of neutral assessments remains significant at 42.4%, indicating a moderate or insufficiently formed perception among a significant portion of respondents. Negative assessments are limited in scope: 2.1% answered “mostly negative,” only 0.2% — “completely negative,” while 1.4% of respondents were undecided.

The trend is telling: the increase in positive assessments by more than 9 percentage points is accompanied by a simultaneous decline in the negative segment. This means that some respondents who previously held a reserved or critical stance are gradually shifting toward a positive perception.

At the same time, the high proportion of neutral responses indicates that Bulgaria’s image remains less distinct for a significant portion of Ukrainians compared to countries that have a more active presence in the public sphere or are associated with key political processes. In such cases, public opinion forms gradually and depends largely on the informational context and personal experience

 

An important feature is that even with a large neutral group, negative attitudes toward Bulgaria remain minimal. This creates a favorable foundation for further strengthening the country’s positive image in Ukrainian society.

“Ukrainians do not form their assessments in isolation—they react to the informational context and their own experience of interacting with countries. Where there are more signals and clear actions, we see an increase in positive assessments. Bulgaria is gradually moving into the group of countries with a consistently positive perception,” noted Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research company Active Group.

Thus, the survey results indicate that Bulgaria is strengthening its position in the public opinion of Ukrainians. The growth of positive attitudes against a backdrop of low negative sentiment creates potential for the further development of bilateral relations at both the social and economic levels.

According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, Bulgaria ranks twelfth in total trade volume of goods with Ukraine, with a figure of $2.99 billion. At the same time, imports of Bulgarian products exceed Ukrainian exports, resulting in a negative trade balance.

The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found at this link on the Experts Club analytical center’s website.

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Ukrainians’ Attitudes Toward Turkey Remain Predominantly Positive with an Improving Trend

The results of a public opinion sociological survey conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in cooperation with the information and analytical center Experts Club indicate a moderately positive and stable attitude of Ukrainians toward Turkey. In total, 55.0% of respondents evaluate the country positively, while negative attitudes account for only 5.6%. Compared to August 2025, positive assessments have increased (from 52.3%), while negative ones, on the contrary, have decreased (from 8.0%), indicating an overall improvement in perception.

The structure of responses demonstrates the predominance of moderate positivity. The share of “completely positive” attitudes is 14.5%, while “mostly positive” accounts for 40.6%. This means that the positive perception of Turkey is widespread, but mostly does not have an unconditional character.

At the same time, the share of neutral assessments is significant — 36.4%. This indicator shows that for a large portion of respondents, Turkey remains a country toward which a rather restrained or pragmatic attitude has been formed, without clearly expressed emotional accents.

The negative segment is relatively small and predominantly moderate in nature: 5.1% of respondents chose the option “mostly negative,” while only 0.5% selected “completely negative.” The share of those who were unable to determine their answer is 3.0%, which indicates a sufficient level of formed opinions among the majority of respondents.

The comparative dynamics between 2025 and 2026 demonstrate a positive trend: the growth in the share of positive assessments is accompanied by a reduction in negative ones. This indicates a gradual strengthening of Turkey’s positive image in Ukrainian society. At the same time, the high level of neutral responses indicates that this perception remains open to further changes.

From an analytical point of view, such a structure of assessments reflects the pragmatic nature of the attitude. Turkey is perceived as an important, but not unquestionable partner, toward which Ukrainians maintain a certain distance. The positive balance of assessments indicates the presence of trust; however, the significant share of neutrality means that this trust is not fully consolidated.

“In the case of Turkey, we see a characteristic example of moderately positive perception with a high share of neutral assessments. This means that attitudes are formed not on the basis of emotions, but rather through practical experience and the current context of interaction. Such results are usually more sensitive to change and can quickly respond to new signals,” said Oleksandr Pozniy, Director of the research company Active Group.

Overall, the results of the study indicate that Turkey occupies an intermediate position in Ukrainians’ perceptions: on the one hand, there is a clearly positive balance; on the other, a lack of full emotional definiteness. This creates potential for further strengthening of a positive image, but at the same time means that it requires constant confirmation through real results of cooperation.

According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, Turkey ranks fourth in terms of trade in goods with Ukraine, exceeding $8.9 billion. The country is an important partner in the Black Sea region, although the trade balance also remains negative for Ukraine.

The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found via a link on the Experts Club analytical center’s website.

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