U.S. Public Support for Ukraine Remains Strong Despite Diminishing Numbers
As the war in Ukraine enters its second year, the American public's support for Ukraine remains strong, but the degree of support varies. According to a recent poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 65% of U.S. adults prefer that the United States support Kyiv in reclaiming its territory, even if that results in a prolonged conflict. However, a Gallup poll conducted in August found that 66% of Americans favored American support for Ukraine.[0]
Moreover, the survey also found that 48% of Americans are in favor of providing weapons to Ukraine, while 29% are opposed and 22% are neither in favor nor opposed. This is a decrease from May 2022, when 60% of U.S. adults said they were in favor of sending weapons to Ukraine.
The poll also revealed that 55% of U.S. voters approve of the decision to send U.S. tanks to help Ukraine, and 44% would support sending U.S. fighter jets, though just 23% would approve of sending American soldiers.[1]
Meanwhile, the poll found that 63 percent of Americans favor imposing economic sanctions on Russia, while 55 percent support the acceptance of Ukrainian refugees into the U.S. However, those numbers have decreased from May 2022.[2]
A separate poll by Gallup showed that 19% of Americans have a great deal of confidence in President Joe Biden’s ability to handle the situation in Ukraine, while 37% say they have only some confidence and 43% have hardly any.[2] The poll also found that 47% of Republicans believe the U.S. is doing too much, while 48% of Democrats say American involvement is about right.[3]
As President Joe Biden prepares to travel to Poland next week to commemorate the first anniversary of the most significant armed conflict in Europe since World War II, indications of waning support for Ukraine are becoming evident.[2] While majorities of all party groups favor Ukraine’s continuing to fight to reclaim its former territory, the poll shows that Republicans are more likely than others to say the U.S. is doing too much.[4]
0. “Poll: American support for Ukraine remains high after year of conflict” UPI News, 6 Feb. 2023, https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2023/02/06/poll-support-ukraine-russian/3951675712553/
1. “43 Percent: Congress Should Keep Giving Ukraine Funds, Weapons” Newsmax, 13 Feb. 2023, https://www.newsmax.com/scottrasmussen/ukraine-funding/2023/02/13/id/1108435/
2. “Ukraine aid support softens in the US: AP-NORC Poll” The Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ukraine-aid-support-softens-in-the-us-ap-norc-poll/2023/02/15/2400fffa-acef-11ed-b0ba-9f4244c6e5da_story.html
3. “Gallup: US Public's Support for Ukraine Holds Steady” Newsmax, 6 Feb. 2023, https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/poll-ukraine-american/2023/02/06/id/1107479/
4. “One Year Later, Americans Still Stand by Ukraine” Gallup Poll, 6 Feb. 2023, https://news.gallup.com/poll/469328/one-year-later-americans-stand-ukraine.aspx
