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 sharp improvement in Ukrainians’ attitudes toward Italy. Overall, 70.2% of respondents evaluate the country positively, while negative attitudes account for only 0.5%. Compared to August 2025, positive assessments increased by more than 10 percentage points (from 57.3%), while negative ones significantly decreased (from 2.3%).
The structure of responses demonstrates not only growth in positivity, but also its qualitative strengthening. The share of “completely positive” attitudes is 19.3%, while “mostly positive” accounts for 50.8%. This means that the positive perception of Italy is not situational, but stable in nature and is formed among the majority of respondents without significant reservations.
The share of neutral assessments is 28.9%, which is a moderate indicator and indicates a sufficiently formed perception of the country. The negative segment is practically absent: only 0.5% of respondents chose the option “mostly negative,” while “completely negative” attitudes were not recorded. The share of those who were unable to determine their answer also stands at 0.5%.
The dynamics of changes between 2025 and 2026 is one of the most indicative among all countries. The growth of positive assessments is accompanied by an almost complete disappearance of negative ones, which indicates a consolidation of public opinion in a positive direction. Unlike cases where polarization or an increase in neutrality is observed, in the case of Italy a clear and stable positive image is being formed.
From an analytical point of view, this means that attitudes toward Italy are moving into the category of a high level of trust. The combination of a significant share of “mostly positive” and the growth of “completely positive” assessments indicates strengthening emotional certainty and a reduction in the level of doubt in the perception of the country.
“In the case of Italy, we see an example of rapid positive consolidation of public opinion. The growth of positive assessments is accompanied by an almost complete disappearance of negative sentiment, which is quite a rare dynamic. This indicates the formation of a stable positive image of the country in Ukrainian society,” said Oleksandr Pozniy, Director of the research company Active Group.
Overall, the results of the study show that Italy occupies one of the strongest positions among countries with a positive perception in Ukraine. A sharp increase in positivity, a minimal level of negativity, and a stable structure of responses indicate a formed and consolidated image that has the potential to remain устойчивый in further dynamics.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, Italy ranks sixth in terms of total trade in goods with Ukraine, with a figure of $5.02 billion. At the same time, imports from Italy slightly exceed Ukrainian exports, forming a moderate negative balance for Ukraine.
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.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, ITALY, LATER, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEY, UKRAINE
