Why it matters:
Public opinion in the U.K. and Europe has soured on the U.S. following a contentious meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, impacting perceptions of the U.S. as a reliable ally.
The big picture:
The shift in sentiment reflects broader concerns about the U.S.'s commitment to its allies and its approach to the Russia- Ukraine war under the Trump administration. The incident underscores potential strains in transatlantic relations and a divergence in views on how to handle the conflict.
Key points:
- The poll was conducted after Trump verbally attacked Zelenskyy in the Oval Office and accused Kyiv of being ungrateful for U.S. support.
- Following the meeting, the Trump administration suspended military aid to Ukraine and intelligence sharing.
What they're saying:
Luke Tryl, director of More in Common: "The fallout from the Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy has had an immediate and seismic impact on public opinion across U.K. and the Continent," and that "Even British citizens appear to have little faith in the special relationship – with just under half now saying the U.S. is an ally of the U.K.."
Trump on Truth Social: Zelenskyy "is not ready for Peace if America is involved because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations".
By the numbers:
- 49% of Brits think the U.S. is still an ally.
- 24% / 23% of French and Germans, respectively, think the U.S. as an ally.
- 70% of the U.K. still thinks of France as an ally.
- 67% of the U.K. thinks the same of Germany.
- 56% of Brits think Trump is a dictator.
- 52% of Brits are happy with Starmer’s approach to the Ukraine war.
- 7,000 people were polled by More in Common.
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Hossein Amiri
