Americans support military assistance to Ukraine

The number of Americans advocating arms supply to Ukraine and direct economic aid to Kiev remains high but has declined.

Witness the results of a new survey by the Associated Press Center for Public Policy Research – NORC, published on the eve of the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

About half, 48% of those polled, favored sending US weapons to Ukraine. 29% were against, 22% did not give a definitive answer.

Yet in May 2022, less than three months into the war, 60% of American adults supported sending arms to Ukraine.

Americans’ opinion on direct government financial aid to Ukraine was almost evenly split: 37% – for, 38% – against, 23% gave no definitive answer.

Signs of waning support for Ukraine have emerged as US President Joe Biden prepares to visit Poland next week to mark the first anniversary of Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II.

“I sympathize with Ukraine and worry about them, but I think we need to take care of the priority things at home first,” said Joe Hernandez, 44, of Rocklin, Calif.

Biden has repeatedly said the United States will help Ukraine “as much as it takes” to counter the Russian invasion, which began Feb. 24 last year.

Privately, however, administration officials have warned Ukrainian officials that the patience of a divided Congress and the American public over spending on a war with no end in sight is not unlimited.

In 2022, Congress approved approximately $113 billion in economic, humanitarian, and military aid.

The poll showed that only 19% of Americans are very confident in Biden’s ability to handle the situation in Ukraine, 37% expressed only some confidence and 43% said they had no such confidence. trust.

Alex Hockseng, 37, of Midland, Texas, expects Republicans to take a tougher stance on spending in Ukraine.

“I think Biden should be more concerned about inflation,” Republican Hokseng said. “We shouldn’t get into this. Ukraine is on the other side of the world and we have enough problems of our own.

The poll showed a majority of Americans, 63%, still support economic sanctions against Russia, although that figure has fallen from 71% in May last year.

Meanwhile, 59% think limiting damage to the US economy is more important than effective sanctions against Russia, even if it means the sanctions will be less effective.

Almost a year ago, the situation had reversed: at the time, 55% considered the effectiveness of sanctions against Russia to be more important, even if it meant damage to the American economy.

Overall, the poll showed about a quarter of Americans, 26%, think the United States should play a major role in the situation in Ukraine, up from 40% in March 2022.