Business news from Ukraine

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.