Aug 2024: Majority of Americans oppose reducing aid to Ukraine
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the U. S. government has consistently stood by the latter, offering unwavering support for their war efforts.
The Biden Administration has been proactive in providing emergency spending packages to assist the Ukrainian government and military and America’s commitment demonstrates the nation’s steadfast dedication to ensuring Ukraine’s safety and sovereignty in these challenging times.
A new survey of Americans found that 25% supported increasing military aid to Ukraine, 27% favored maintaining current levels, and 28% preferred decreasing aid. Overall, per the YouGov survey, 52% of Americans support maintaining or increasing aid to Ukraine.
The same survey found that 22% of Americans believe Ukraine is winning, while 16% think Russia is. However, 34% said neither side is winning, and 28% were unsure.
Survey results on Russia’s unprovoked war with Ukraine have fluctuated since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Recently, more Americans believe Ukraine is gaining momentum. In June, only 11% of Americans believed Ukraine was winning, while 22% thought Russia had the upper hand.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced his country’s capture of Sudzha, a key Russian town, in a surprising cross-border invasion. Also, Ukrainian troops pummeled Russian air bases with drones and missiles, prompting Russia to retreat and Zelensky to make an announcement.
Zelensky’s forces advanced into Russia’s Kursk region, pressuring the U. S. to lift long-range strike restrictions.
The Outcome Americans are evenly divided on the war’s outcome, despite viewing Ukraine’s performance favorably. Twenty-three percent of respondents believe Russia will win, while an equal percentage think Ukraine will.
And Americans believe President Biden (67%) and Vice President Harris (59%) sympathize more with Ukrainians than former President Trump (21%). Only 37% thought Trump sympathizes with Russia.
The Candidates If Kamala Harris becomes president, she’ll likely maintain Biden’s Ukraine policy. However, if Trump wins, he’ll probably end military support to Ukraine, potentially leaving it unable to resist Russia.
Trump, who has long admired Russian President Vladimir Putin, believes arming Ukraine doesn’t serve US interests and wastes billions on an unwinnable war. He thinks U.S. money should address domestic needs and what he considers “real” foreign threats. In his view, Russia isn’t a major threat, while China is the main adversary deserving focus.
The Republican party has undergone a radical transformation. Make no mistake: the once-influential internationalist wing, championed by figures like Ronald Reagan and John McCain, is dead. Trump has decisively eliminated this faction, relegating its ideology of global leadership and anti-isolationism to irrelevance.
The few remaining representatives of this outdated worldview, such as Mitch McConnell, are now utterly powerless and discredited within the party. McConnell’s humiliation at the GOP convention, where he was booed while nominating Trump, serves as irrefutable evidence of this shift. Let’s be clear: Trump has absolute control over the Republican party. There is no room for dissent or alternative voices. The party now marches to Trump’s tune, period.
The survey, conducted Aug. 17–20 with 1,565 Americans, has a 3 percent margin of error.
