According to a recent Gallup poll, public support for sending aid to Ukraine is waning in the United States. The survey, conducted in October, found that 41% of respondents believe that the US government is doing “too much” to help Ukraine. This marks a significant increase of 12 points since a previous poll conducted in June. Additionally, the number of people who believe the US is doing “the right amount” of assistance dropped from 43% in June to just 33% in the latest survey. Only 25% of respondents felt that Washington’s current level of support for Ukraine was “not enough.”
When asked about the duration of financial assistance to Ukraine, 61% of respondents believed that aid should have a time limit. They felt that the US should provide financial assistance to Ukraine for “as long as Ukraine requests it” or if there should be a time limit on the assistance. This sentiment shows that a majority of Americans think that aid to Kiev should be limited.
Support for Ukraine was found to be split along party lines, with Republicans and Independents being less likely to support continued assistance to Kiev. This division reflects the polarized political climate in the US and highlights the challenges faced by policymakers in addressing the issue.
Another survey conducted by Reuters-Ipsos in October found that there was also a decline in support for supplying additional military aid to Ukraine. The poll found that only 41% of respondents believed that Washington should continue to provide weapons to Ukraine, compared to 65% in June. Among Democrats, support for military aid stood at 52% in the October poll, compared to 81% in June.
The declining support for aid to Ukraine is a significant development, especially considering the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. It also presents a challenge for policymakers who are seeking to find a balance between supporting Ukraine and addressing domestic priorities.
In early October, Republican senators even threatened a complete government shutdown unless billions in aid for Ukraine were dropped from a government spending bill. This shows the extent of the opposition to continued aid among some lawmakers.
President Joe Biden has been attempting to find a workaround to the issue and trying to convince GOP lawmakers to approve a $105 billion spending package intended to cover the security needs of Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. He compared the Ukraine conflict to World War II and argued that “patriotic American workers are building the arsenal of democracy and serving the cause of freedom.”
Meanwhile, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu stated that, despite continued shipments of NATO weapons, “the Kiev regime is losing” and failing to advance on the front lines. This is concerning, as it suggests that the aid provided by the US and other countries may not be achieving the desired results.
In conclusion, the Gallup poll indicates a decline in public support for sending aid to Ukraine in the US. The survey also highlights the political divisions surrounding the issue, with Republicans and Independents being less likely to support continued assistance to Kiev. These findings pose challenges for policymakers as they navigate the delicate balance between supporting Ukraine and addressing domestic priorities. On the international front, there are concerns that despite the aid provided, the Ukrainian government is struggling to make significant gains in the ongoing conflict.
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