Ukrainians maintain a predominantly positive attitude toward Poland

The results of a sociological survey conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group together with the information and analytical center Experts Club show a consistently positive but at the same time more differentiated attitude of Ukrainians toward Poland. Overall, 56.4% of respondents view Poland positively, while 14.7% view it negatively. Compared with August 2025, the share of positive assessments has barely changed (56.7%), whereas negative assessments rose from 12.7% to 14.7%.

The structure of responses points to a predominance of moderate assessments. The share of “completely positive” attitudes is 19.3%, while “mostly positive” is 37.1%. At the same time, the share of neutral assessments also remains significant — 27.5%. This means that for a considerable portion of respondents, Poland does not evoke clearly defined emotional reactions but is perceived rather through a pragmatic lens.

Negative attitudes are also mostly moderate: 12.4% of respondents chose “mostly negative,” and only 2.3% chose “completely negative.” The share of those who could not decide is minimal (1.4%), which indicates a sufficient level of formed perceptions of the country among Ukrainians.

The dynamics of change between 2025 and 2026 point to a certain increase in critical perception of Poland. While the overall positive balance is maintained, the share of unequivocally positive assessments is gradually shrinking and, at the same time, the share of negative ones is growing. This trend may indicate a transition from an emotionally positive to a more measured and rational perception.

It is important that Poland nevertheless remains a country with a predominantly positive image in Ukrainian society. A ratio of positive to negative assessments of more than three to one in favor of the positive indicates that a high level of trust and a generally favorable attitude have been preserved. At the same time, the growth of the negative component signals the emergence of new factors influencing public opinion.

The high share of neutral responses deserves separate attention. It may indicate that for part of the respondents Poland is not an emotionally polarizing factor but is perceived as an important, though not unconditional, partner. In such a situation, even minor changes in the information background or in practical interaction may influence the balance of assessments in the future.

“Ukrainians do not see the world in black and white and assess other countries quite objectively. Where there is more information and experience of interaction, a more measured attitude takes shape. At the same time, even small changes in the political or information environment can affect the dynamics of assessments,” – noted Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research company Active Group.

Overall, the results of the study show that attitudes toward Poland in Ukraine remain consistently positive but are gradually becoming more complex and multidimensional. This reflects a general trend toward the rationalization of public opinion, where countries are assessed not only on the basis of emotions but also taking into account specific experience of interaction and the current context.

According to a study conducted by the information and analytical center Experts Club on the basis of State Customs Service data, Poland ranks second in total goods trade with Ukraine, with a figure of more than $13 billion, trailing only China. At the same time, Poland remains one of Ukraine's key trading partners in the EU, although the trade balance is also negative for Ukraine.

The study was presented at the press center of Interfax-Ukraine; the video can be viewed on the agency's YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found via this link on the website of the analytical center Experts Club.