Public optimism in Ukraine highest since 2005, poll says

Public optimism in Ukraine is at its highest level
since 2005, when such polling began, according to an annual survey conducted by
the Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Fund and Kyiv International Institute of
Sociology. About 36.3% of Ukrainians said they feel optimism, compared to 33.8%
in 2005, immediately following the Orange revolts. About 55.8% of Ukrainians
said they feel hope, the highest since 2005, when about 61.2% said they feel
hope. About 50.5% of Ukrainians believe the country is moving in the right
direction, the highest since this question (posed on an annual basis) was first
presented in April 2004. This year’s poll was conducted among 2,040 respondents
between Aug. 8 and 20.

Zenon Zawada: Former
presidents Viktor Yushchenko (in 2005) and Petro Poroshenko (in 2014) had a
mandate from the public to engage in sweeping structural reforms, particularly
to improve rule of law and combat corruption. Yet they chose the path of
business as usual because it was easier. Now Ukrainian President Zelensky and
his team have the same mandate for sweeping reforms from the public. Given that
he and his team have minimal ties to the post-Soviet elites – and they
represent a new generation with different norms and values – it is reasonable
to expect that they will roll up their sleeves and do the hard work that their
predecessors chose not to do (or were incapable of doing).

The expectations are so high for the Zelensky
administration that they will be impossible to meet (similar to when Yushchenko
was inaugurated in January 2005). What’s apparent is that the Zelensky agenda
will be based on Western-backed structural reforms, political pragmatism
(particularly in finding peace with Russia) and economic development
(particularly in improving investment conditions). Another key agenda item is
convincing the residents of the Russophile southeastern regions of the
advantages of Euro-Atlantic integration. The Zelensky presidency will be
considered a success if even a portion of these plans is fulfilled.