Citizens on the Street: What Ukrainians Think About the American Presidential Election – The Village Voice

Americans are already casting their votes for president. The 538 polling site has Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of former president Donald Trump nationally by one to two points, with the seven battleground states even closer, or slightly favoring Trump. This divided electorate is on edge, as key topics such as abortion access, immigration, gun rights, and climate change take center stage.

As November 5 comes barreling down on America, halfway around the world Ukrainians are bracing for the results of an election that could decide the fate of their war-torn country. Over the past two and a half years, President Biden has provided material and moral support for Ukraine as it fights to survive the Russian invasion. Harris has backed Biden’s stance, but only briefly spotlights Ukraine on the campaign trail. In contrast, Trump has stated that he would end the war on day one of his term, although he’s offered no substantive plan. He has, however, said in the past that he would encourage Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” to NATO countries who fail to meet defense spending criteria.

For Ukrainians, the stakes of the election are high, as it is coming at a time when Moscow’s forces are advancing at the fastest rate in more than two years, despite Ukraine’s recent cross-border incursion into Russia and occupation of parts of the Kursk region. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pleaded with allies to do “everything that can be done” to minimize Russia’s advances on the frontlines, and his administration has deemed the current fight a crucial moment for the country, as both the U.S. election and the winter months draw nearer. Ukraine has been under constant attack over the past few months, and war fatigue permeates the country; many residents simply want the war to end somehow. 

“We know that Trump will not support Ukraine. He will cut off all possible support, so it’s obviously only one option.”

On the streets of Kyiv, the capital city, and over the Telegram messaging app from other regions, I asked Ukrainians who had been living in their country over the course of the war, as well as refugees living abroad, who they are hoping will win the election: former president Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris. What I found was a division not unlike the one in the U.S. For the most part, those living in Kyiv wanted Harris to win the election, seeing her as the only candidate who would help Ukraine continue the fight for its existence and the mission to liberate all Russian-occupied land in the process. Residents of eastern Ukraine, however, where Russian-backed fighters first attacked in 2014, a conflict that has been subsumed in the larger Russian invasion of 2022, voiced the hope for an end to the war sooner. Some feel that Trump, who has repeatedly stated that he would end the war in the early days of his presidency, is the candidate who can do so. 

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The war in Ukraine has carried on for the past two and a half years. Over that time, the U.S. has been a steadfast supporter of Ukraine. Now, the U.S. is preparing for the 2024 presidential election, and the outcome might determine Ukraine’s future. Who do you want to win the election, and why? 

Natalia, 86, Kyiv
If Kamala Harris will help and support Ukraine, then of course, it’s better for Kamala Harris…. Because Trump, in general, seems to me to be not serious. Well, in general, it’s hard for me to believe that Kamala will win. I don’t believe she will win.

Yevheniia, 27, operations manager from Mariupol, now in Kyiv
I’m trying to always be in this political bubble and try to understand at least something about American political elections. I know that is a kind of huge deal, especially for Americans, because it’s two completely different parties, Republicans and Democrats. When I saw that Biden was not stable, I was completely lost. I thought, we’re gonna be gone, because we really need this. We rely on it. And it’s also very nervous for us, too.

Then, I saw Kamala Harris. I didn’t understand who [she was] exactly. I’m trying to find any information about her, and I don’t understand what she is thinking about our country. This kind of European thing in me really wants Kamala, I guess. She looks younger than Trump, and kind of more normal.

Oksana, 39, psychologist for Voices of Children, Bakhmut
We’re observers of the process of election in America, but of course, we understand that it can influence our life and the existence of our country. In case Russia wins, I have to escape, because I work with kids who are brought back from deportation. My husband serves in the army, so we can’t live in this country.

The only way out for us is to win. Emotionally, I like Trump because he’s an extraordinary guy. He’s unpredictable. As a psychologist, he’s interesting. Nobody can predict his next step, but I think that he’s a really strong man. But I’m not sure that he will take our side, and that’s why Kamila [sic] Harris is closer, and more clear, and more understandable. 

For me, as a Ukrainian woman, as a mother, as a wife of a soldier, as a psychologist who works with kids, it is important to see someone who will help us.

“Donald Trump, because he will stop the war.”  

Eva, 32, graphic designer from Kharkiv, refugee in Dubai
Democrats obviously, because their politics toward Ukraine is quite straightforward and supportive, in a way. The other party is unpredictable, and we’d love to expect the same level of solidarity from them, but I hardly believe it could happen.

Natalia, 68, Kyiv
Well, honestly, we have a lot of our own problems, but seeing how the current American president, Biden, helps Ukraine in solving many issues, we are for him. [I am] for women. For Harris. I don’t see any changes in American politics or in the American economy which is very much good for the American people. But the main decisive issue is for the people of America because they live there.

Anton, 40, information technology, Kyiv
It’s obviously Kamala Harris. We are supporting her and we know a lot about elections in America. We know that Trump will not support Ukraine. He will cut off all possible support, so it’s obviously only one option. We are standing for democrats as our country is also democratic, so we obviously will support only Kamala Harris. I read a lot of news in the Telegram channels, and people mostly say that they support only Kamala Harris. It’s obvious choice for Ukraine, for Ukrainian citizens.

I heard about how [Speaker of the House] Mike Johnson commented that Trump will cut off the war in the first day. And people jokingly said [Trump] will call Putin, say something like, “Vladimir, please stop this war. You need to calm down.” And he will say, “Please speak Russian. I don’t understand anything.” 

Personally, if you ask me, I have a lot of concerns about [at this point, Anton searched for the appropriate English words, then was able to convey to me his concern about Trump’s relationship with Putin]. And I think that he will play the time for Putin. So, he will not stop the war. It’s not possible. They will simply not stop somewhere in Donbas or take some small city, big city. They simply will not stop there. Their specific line is somewhere behind Poland. 

ANNA CONKLING

Alexandra, 23, language teacher from Dnipro, refugee in France
If you look from the point of view of Ukraine, I’m in favor of Trump. Because he will not sponsor this war, and he has a real plan to come to negotiations and a truce. 

I listened to his speech, and he said he could press Putin to make peace. Yes, we will lose a lot of territories, but we will be guaranteed that we will be part of the European Union and NATO. This will give us a guarantee that such a terrible war will not happen again.

Everyone is so tired in Ukraine from the corruption. When I read that America or other countries are sending us monetary support, I think, Oh no, please send weapons, but not money. All the people are very tired of the war. They all want to go back to normal life. Unfortunately, it seems to me that without negotiations, this will not end. 

Ekaterina, 38, marketing, Kharkiv
Donald Trump, because he will stop the war. He expressed his position on this issue, the speedy cessation of hostilities on the territory of Ukraine.

Vladimir, 45, actor, Kharkiv
The thing is, neither Trump nor Harris appeals to me right now. This entire thing is a public relations campaign for the election, so no one knows what will happen and how any president will act toward Ukraine, so it’s hard to answer. Trump is old. [Kamala] is always laughing, so it gives the impression that she’s an inadequate person.

Elena, 64, dentist, Sumy
Whoever among them supports Ukraine and who will continue to help, what they promise. I’m for that one, in short. I’m not interested in anything at all, except for them helping Ukraine. Kamala is there by some kind of accident. Trump already has experience. He is better for the American people. I’m for the one who supports Ukraine best. I don’t care otherwise.  ❖

Anna Conkling is a freelance journalist based in New York City who, since the beginning of the Russian invasion, has been corresponding with and on the ground interviewing Ukrainian soldiers, students, and civilians, and writing about them for the Voice and other publications.

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This article is part of a series — At 250, Who Will America Be? — reporting on threats to American democracy as we approach the nation’s Semiquincentennial, on July 4, 2026.

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