Budanov's approval ratings have risen: Fesenko cites the main reason
Fesenko made these comments in an interview with Radio NV.
Political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko believes that the rise in Kyrylo Budanov’s approval ratings is primarily linked to the topic of negotiations.
According to him, Budanov’s ratings began to rise around January 2026 – following his appointment as head of the President’s Office and his more active involvement in the negotiation process.
Fesenko suggests that Budanov himself and his team may have concluded that the very topic of negotiations is having a positive effect on his personal image.
Why Budanov’s ratings began to rise
According to the political analyst, the rise in Budanov’s ratings was directly linked to the expectations of a section of society regarding the possible success of the negotiations.
Fesenko noted that Budanov began to be perceived as one of the key participants in the negotiation process, although formally the chief negotiator with the Russians is NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov.
Budanov, according to the political analyst, is a member of the delegation. However, in the public perception, it is he who is increasingly associated with the negotiations.
“An interesting paradox”
Fesenko drew attention to an “interesting paradox”: Budanov’s previous high-profile statements, in particular regarding the possibility of Ukrainian forces entering Crimea, did not significantly affect his ratings.
Instead, his ratings began to rise when some people started to associate Budanov with the negotiations.
The political analyst also noted that since February, negotiations and ending the war through a negotiation process have become the key themes in Budanov’s interviews.
Does Budanov affect Zelenskyy’s ratings?
Fesenko believes that Budanov’s popularity does not necessarily harm Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s ratings.
According to him, Zelenskyy’s and Budanov’s electoral bases overlap significantly. Some people support both the president and the head of the President’s Office.
The political analyst compared this situation to the period of 2022–2023, when many Ukrainians trusted both Zelenskyy and the then Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valeriy Zaluzhnyy.
What is the difference between trust and elections
Fesenko emphasised that trust ratings and electoral ratings are different things.
It is possible to trust several politicians or officials at the same time. But during an election, a voter must choose only one candidate.
That is why, according to the political analyst, in Zaluzhny’s case, he is supported more by those who want change and a replacement for the current president. The situation with Budanov is different for now: his support does not, to a large extent, conflict with support for Zelensky.
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