New poll shows most Americans want to keep supporting Ukraine

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has become an increasingly hot-button issue in the United States, but a new poll shows that a majority of Americans actually support continued aid to the embattled Ukrainians as they fight to take back their land. 

The poll comes from the non-profit Ukrainian-American human rights group Rozom. In a press release from the organization, it was reported that 63% of respondents stated that they supported continued military action in Ukraine.

Well over half of the respondents (59%) wanted to continue supporting Ukraine until the situation was stabilized and Russia left Ukraine’s territory. However, the poll did reveal several other key insights, the least of which was America's partisan divide on the issue.  

Interestingly, the poll revealed the stark difference in opinion between Americans on the issue of military support to Ukraine, with 87% of self-described Democrats reporting that they wanted to continue support. In contrast, only 48% of self-described Republicans wanted to continue U.S. support.

However, despite the partisan divide on the question of sending aid to Ukraine, nearly all of the poll's respondents could agree (83%) that countries who bullied others would just do more damage unless they were stopped, and 83% of people said everyone has a right to freedom. 

Another 81% of respondents said the United States should stand up for human rights whenever possible, which was an interesting finding since the press release noted that when people were given details on Ukraine’s success, they were more likely to support assistance.  

“When presented with information about the breadth of Ukraine’s achievements in the war, the agreement rate among respondents increases on the question of if American support for Ukraine has been worth it so far,” the press release read. 

A large majority of Americans have a negative view of Russia, with 68% noting that they recognized the Russians were committing genocide in Ukraine. In comparison, 63% agreed that they wanted Putin to be defeated now. 

Another interesting insight into the American psyche on the war is that only 20% of the people polled said that they wanted Ukraine to settle the war, meaning they were okay with Kyiv ceding territory if it brought the conflict to a close.   

Most Americans also support continued aid to Ukraine when they hear that the goal of the Ukrainians is to win the conflict, an interesting conclusion made by Rozom, even if winning the conflict isn’t a publicly stated goal of the United States.

“Although the U.S. has not stated victory as the goal,” the press release on the new poll read, “Americans would prefer to see that the U.S. wants Ukraine to prevail against the invasion and not just to seek a stronger negotiating position.”

The survey was conducted between August 10th and 17th, including 4,190 voters from across the United States. Unfortunately, there have been growing calls by some American conservative political figures to end U.S. military aid to Ukraine. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently visited Washington D.C. in an attempt to shore up U.S. support, according to The New York Times. Still, Republican leaders in Congress have taken differing stances on whether or not to provide more aid to Kyiv. 

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he would meet with Zelensky privately but would not convene a forum for the Ukrainian President to address the house members during his visit to the capitol. 

“Where is the accountability on the money we already spent?” McCarthy told reporters on September 19th. “What is the plan for victory? I think that’s what the American public wants to know.” However, Kyiv still has firm support from Joe Biden and GOP senate leaders.

How this issue will affect American politics moving forward has yet to be seen, but it is likely that continued military aid to Ukraine will become one of the major topics of the 2024 election, though which way Americans will break is still anybody's guess.