Don't expect anti-American sentiment to take hold in Ukraine, sociologist says
Illustrative photo: Anti-American sentiment is unlikely in Ukraine (Getty Images)
Ukrainians' attitude towards the USA will gradually worsen due to the reduction of aid. But, Oleksii Antypovych, Head of the Rating Sociological Group, says in an interview with RBC-Ukraine that there are no conditions for anti-American sentiment.
As Antypovych noted, Ukrainians' attitudes towards specific countries during wartime heavily depend on the aid these countries provide to us.
"That's logical. For example, Germany and France were perceived much more reservedly because of their position, unwillingness, sluggishness, insufficient defense of Ukrainian interests, and so on. Although materially these countries helped us more than those towards whom the attitude is significantly better," he said.
According to him, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is the best example among European countries. Hungary has started to be perceived almost as hostile; it is the first country before the line of already openly hostile countries, which we perceive as Russia and Belarus.
Lack of grounds for anti-Americanism
"I think that anti-American sentiments in Ukraine are hardly to be expected now. At least because during these full three years of war, the United States of America as a state has helped us enormously and helped us to withstand," said Antypovych.
In his opinion, further support may become smaller. "But that does not mean that we will start to have a bad attitude towards them (Americans - ed.) because they have reduced their aid. We must rely on ourselves. And this understanding exists," the sociologist added.
Antypovych pointed out that to have anti-American sentiments, there must be Americans in Ukraine, American companies, American influences, the American government, American territories, and American citizens.
"There can even be some anti-Polish sentiments in border zones or at crossings when we have certain difficulties with the Poles, such as during the farmers' crisis at the Polish border when the border was blocked, and so on," he added.
To recall, according to the Razumkov Center (Ukrainian Center for Economic and Political Studies), in 2025 Ukrainians' attitude towards the USA has significantly worsened. Last year, 84.0% viewed this country positively, and 10.4% negatively (balance +73.6%). Now, 63.1% view it positively, 26.7% negatively, balance +36.4%.
Last autumn, many Ukrainians expected decisive steps from Donald Trump to establish a fair peace. However, he did not meet those expectations, and his rating in Ukraine fell below 10%.
