< Back

Half of Americans continue to support arms supplies to Ukraine

May 25, 2023

Support among the U.S. population for assistance to Ukraine has slightly decreased but is still quite broad.

This is evidenced by the results of a survey conducted by the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy and NORC, AP reports.

The survey showed that half of Americans support the Pentagon's supply of weapons to Ukraine to protect it from Russian troops. This level has not changed since the beginning of the year. In May last year, 60% supported arms sales.

Now, about a quarter of Americans oppose the continuation of military support, which has now exceeded $37 billion.

According to a poll conducted last month, an overwhelming majority of both Democrats and Republicans believe that Russia's attack on Ukraine was unjustified.

In terms of specific types of U.S. support for Ukraine, public support for U.S. sanctions against Russia has seen the most significant drop: from 71% a year ago to 58% this spring, although it is still a majority.

Image

The decline in support for sanctions may reflect people's concern that efforts to isolate Russia economically have contributed to rising inflation, analysts say.

Overall, however, the poll results show that U.S. policymakers' fears of significant financial assistance to Ukraine have not yet been realized: that public support will fall if the war drags on, and that significant aid to Ukraine will become an issue that divides Democrats and Republicans.

An overwhelming majority of U.S. adults believe that Russia has committed war crimes during the war, including 54% who believe that Russia is the only party that has done so.

Older adults are more likely to view the Russian invasion as an unjustified attempt to overthrow the Ukrainian government - 79% of those 45 and older, compared to 59% of those 44 and younger.

Overall, 62% consider Russia to be an enemy - or a major enemy - of the United States. And 48% are very concerned about Russia's influence around the world. At the same time, 50% say they have a favorable view of the Russian people, compared to 17% who have an unfavorable view.

Only 8% of Americans have a positive view of Putin.

Author - Olena Madiak, 25/05/2023

Recent news