The results of a public opinion poll conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analysis centre show that Ukrainians’ attitude towards Poland remains consistently positive, yet is becoming more nuanced. Overall, 56.4% of respondents view Poland positively, whilst 14.7% view it negatively. Compared to August 2025, the proportion of positive views has remained almost unchanged (56.7%), whilst negative views have risen from 12.7% to 14.7%.
The breakdown of responses indicates a predominance of moderate views. The proportion of ‘entirely positive’ attitudes stands at 19.3%, whilst ‘mostly positive’ attitudes account for 37.1%. At the same time, the proportion of neutral views remains significant at 27.5%. This means that for a significant proportion of respondents, Poland does not evoke clearly defined emotional reactions, but is perceived rather through a pragmatic lens.
Negative attitudes are also predominantly moderate in nature: 12.4% of respondents chose the ‘mostly negative’ option, and only 2.3% chose ‘completely negative’. The proportion of those who were undecided is minimal (1.4%), indicating that Ukrainians’ perceptions of the country are sufficiently well-formed.
The dynamics of change between 2025 and 2026 indicate a certain increase in criticality in the perception of Poland. Whilst the overall positive balance is maintained, the proportion of unequivocally positive assessments is gradually decreasing, whilst the proportion of negative ones is increasing. This trend may indicate a shift from an emotionally positive to a more measured and rational perception.
It is important to note that, at the same time, Poland remains a country with a predominantly positive image in Ukrainian society. The ratio of positive to negative assessments, which is more than three times in favour of the positive, indicates that a high level of trust and a generally favourable attitude are maintained. At the same time, the growth in the negative component signals the emergence of new factors influencing public opinion.
The high proportion of neutral responses deserves special attention. This may indicate that, for some respondents, Poland is not an emotionally polarising factor, but is perceived as an important, though not unquestionable, partner. In such a situation, even minor changes in the information landscape or practical interactions could influence the balance of assessments in the future.
“Ukrainians do not view the world in black and white and assess other countries quite objectively. Where there is more information and experience of interaction, a more balanced attitude is formed. At the same time, even minor changes in the political or information environment can influence the dynamics of assessments,” noted Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research company Active Group.
Overall, the survey results indicate that attitudes towards Poland in Ukraine remain consistently positive, but are gradually becoming more complex and multi-dimensional. This reflects a general trend towards the rationalisation of public opinion, where countries are assessed not only on the basis of emotions, but also taking into account specific experiences of interaction and the current context.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical centre based on data from the State Customs Service, Poland ranks second in terms of total trade in goods with Ukraine, with a figure of over $13 billion, second only to China. At the same time, Poland remains one of Ukraine’s key trading partners within the EU, although the trade balance is also negative for Ukraine.
The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press centre; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found via this link on the Experts Club analytical centre’s website.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, POLAND, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEYS, UKRAINE, URAKIN
Ukrainians’ attitudes towards Serbia in March 2026 show a moderate increase in positive views against a backdrop of declining negative perceptions; however, the overall picture remains mixed. The proportion of positive attitudes rose to 21.7% compared to 13.7% in August 2025, whilst negative attitudes fell from 26.0% to 19.6%. This is evidenced by the results of a public opinion poll conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical centre.
Despite these changes, neutrality remains the key characteristic of perceptions of Serbia: 55.0% of respondents do not have a clearly formed attitude towards this country. This indicates the absence of a stable image of Serbia in Ukrainian society and a significant degree of uncertainty regarding the perception of its role in the international context.
The breakdown of responses shows that the positive perception is formed mainly through moderate assessments: only 5.6% of respondents chose the ‘entirely positive’ option, whilst 16.1% selected ‘mostly positive’. At the same time, negative assessments also carry significant weight: 16.3% of respondents expressed a ‘mostly negative’ attitude, and a further 3.3% — ‘completely negative’. The proportion of those who were unable to decide on an answer stands at 3.7%.
The trend indicates a certain softening of attitudes towards Serbia: an increase in positive views is accompanied by a simultaneous decrease in negative ones. At the same time, these changes have not led to the formation of a clearly positive image of the country, as neutral assessments remain dominant.
In a broader context, this means that Serbia is perceived by Ukrainians as a country with an ambiguous position in international affairs. It does not provoke a sharply negative reaction, yet it is not associated with unconditional support for Ukraine, which limits the level of trust and emotional attachment.
‘The results for Serbia show that Ukrainian society reacts quite sensitively to the foreign policy behaviour of countries. The rise in positive assessments indicates a certain softening of perception, yet the high level of neutrality means that the country’s image remains ambiguous. In such cases, consistency in actions and signals plays a key role in building trust at the societal level,” noted Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical centre.
At the same time, he added that over the past year, Ukrainians’ attitudes towards Serbia have improved significantly, not least due to the activities of the Republic’s embassy, led by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Andon Sapundži.
“The Serbian mission’s active involvement, led by the new ambassador, in humanitarian initiatives and the establishment of intergovernmental dialogue has undoubtedly had a positive impact on Ukrainians’ attitudes towards this Balkan state compared to last year’s figures,” added Urakin.
Thus, attitudes towards Serbia can be characterised as transitional: they demonstrate positive momentum but have not yet transformed into a stable positive image. Further changes will largely depend on how clear and consistent the country’s position is on issues important to Ukrainian society.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical centre based on data from the State Customs Service, Serbia ranks 40th in terms of total trade in goods with Ukraine, which amounts to $444.1 million. However, imports of Serbian goods exceed Ukrainian exports, resulting in a bilateral trade deficit of $92.9 million.
The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press centre; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found via this link on the Experts Club analytical centre’s website.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SERBIA, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEYS, UKRAINE, URAKIN
The results of a public opinion poll conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analysis centre reveal a complex and contradictory pattern in Ukrainians’ attitudes towards China. Overall, 20.3% of respondents expressed a positive attitude, whilst 42.0% expressed a negative one. Compared to August 2025, positive assessments have risen (from 12.0%), but negative ones have also increased slightly (from 40.7%), indicating not a shift in the balance but a deepening of polarisation.
A more detailed breakdown of the responses shows that only 7.7% of those surveyed have a ‘completely positive’ attitude towards China, whilst 12.6% have a ‘mostly positive’ one. At the same time, the proportion of neutral assessments is significant — 34.3% — indicating a lack of a clear position among a significant proportion of respondents.
The negative segment is dominant and is predominantly moderate in nature: 33.1% chose the ‘mostly negative’ option, with a further 8.9% selecting ‘entirely negative’. This suggests that negative perceptions of China are not sharply radicalised, but remain persistent and widespread. The proportion of those who are undecided stands at 3.5%.
Comparative trends indicate a certain increase in interest in or reassessment of China, reflected in a rise in positive assessments. However, the parallel rise in negative sentiment suggests the absence of a single trend. Rather, it indicates the formation of more pronounced positions — both positive and critical.
“Ukrainians today quite clearly distinguish between a country’s economic weight and its perception in a political and social context. In the case of China, this is particularly evident: on the one hand, there is an awareness of its role in the global economy, and on the other, a reserved or negative attitude. This is precisely why we are seeing a simultaneous rise in both positive and negative assessments,” noted Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research company Active Group.
The high proportion of neutral responses is also an important indicator. It may indicate a limited level of personal experience of interaction or a lack of awareness among some respondents. In such conditions, public opinion remains sensitive to changes in the information environment and the foreign policy context.
“The modern international economy is shaped not only by trade, but also by trust and the perception of partners. If a country is present in the market but is not associated with investment, technology or support, this affects its image in society. In the case of China, we see a clear example of such an asymmetry between economic presence and perception. Our people are guided by emotions and the picture presented by the media, rather than by concrete facts and statistics. It should be added that if Ukrainian citizens really did have such a negative attitude towards China, there would be a de facto self-imposed embargo on the purchase of Chinese technology, clothing and other goods, but this is not the case; China remains the number one trading partner, which would be difficult without a positive or neutral attitude towards the country. “Another issue is that China should also strengthen its presence in Ukraine in the fields of humanitarian aid, educational and scientific exchange, cultural diplomacy, and so on,” noted Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical centre.
Overall, the survey results indicate that China remains an important but ambiguous partner for Ukrainians. Positive assessments are on the rise, but they do not alter the overall balance, which is dominated by a cautiously negative perception. This points to the need for a deeper analysis of the factors shaping public opinion, as well as the potential for its further transformation depending on the development of economic and political relations.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical centre based on data from the State Customs Service, China is the leader in terms of total trade in goods with Ukraine, with a figure exceeding $21 billion. At the same time, imports from China significantly exceed exports of Ukrainian goods, resulting in a substantial trade deficit.
The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press centre; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found via this link on the Experts Club analytical centre’s website.
ACTIVE GROUP, CHINA, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEYS, UKRAINE, URAKIN
