On a wintry morning in a small American town, a voter opens a news alert about a new Economist/YouGov poll showing 49% of Americans disapprove of how Donald Trump is handling Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The survey, conducted December 26–29, 2025 among 1,550 respondents with a margin of error of ±3.6 percentage points, finds that 49% disapprove of Trump’s handling, while 30% approve (the remaining respondents were undecided or expressed no clear view). The poll also asks respondents who they think has the upper hand in the war: 27% say Russia, 6% say Ukraine, 44% say neither side, and 24% are unsure.
The data, reported by Yahoo News and anchored in coverage from The Hill citing The Economist/YouGov, places public opinion at a crossroads as policymakers weigh next steps toward ending or shaping the conflict.
Analysts note that the results come ahead of a busy 2026 political calendar, with lawmakers and voters considering how foreign policy will factor into domestic debates and presidential strategy. The poll’s authors caution that public sentiment can shift as new peace proposals emerge and as efforts to bolster or wind down support to Kyiv evolve.
The findings underscore a shared demand for accountability, cautious optimism for peace, and a clear expectation that leaders present credible paths forward in the war’s next phase.