The Washington Examiner (USA) commented that the large financial aid that this country gives to Ukraine is no longer convincing to a part of voters.
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| A CNN survey shows that Americans' support for large-scale military and financial aid to Ukraine is on the decline. Illustrative photo. (Source: AFP/Getty Images) |
US President Joe Biden has often said that he will continue to provide military aid to Ukraine “as long as necessary” in its conflict with Russia. This statement has been repeated by the White House owner many times at different events.
However, in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict that has lasted for more than a year and a half, the Washington leader's statement about "indefinite" aid to Kiev is no longer receiving the same support as before. According to a CNN (US) poll conducted on 1,279 people from July 1-31 with a margin of error of 3.7%, up to 55% of respondents said that Congress "should not authorize additional funding to support Ukraine in the conflict with Russia".
Meanwhile, 51% of respondents said the US “did enough to stop Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.” Even 53% of respondents disapproved of Mr. Biden’s handling of the Ukraine issue.
In the poll, a majority of respondents, regardless of race, gender, age or income, disapproved of the US’s indefinite commitment to Ukraine. Notably, 62% of Democrats said Congress should provide more funding, while 71% of Republicans said Congress should not approve new military aid.
Similarly, 61% of Democrats say the US should do more, but 59% of Republicans and 56% of independents think otherwise. Most liberals want the US to do more, but moderates and conservatives believe the opposite.
That doesn’t mean Americans don’t want to do anything to help Ukraine. The poll listed several options and found a majority in favor of Washington providing “intelligence gathering assistance” and “military training” for the Ukrainian Armed Forces (VSU). But other options were not.
Notably, only 17% support “US military involvement in combat,” which is something Joe Biden has pledged since the conflict began and the politician would certainly face strong opposition if he changed his stance.
All this comes as the US presidential campaign is in full swing. Joe Biden, despite talk of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. or Cornel West, has no real rival, at least so far, in the Democratic race. The number of party members who oppose funding Ukraine is growing, and many of them, as many as a third, have little choice.
For Republicans, the story is a little different. Former President Donald Trump, who leads the polls, has promised to resolve the conflict quickly upon taking office. However, he has not offered specific plans.
The runner-up, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, has been less clear about his position. When asked about Ukraine in an interview with Fox News last week, he gave a rather vague answer. He said that European countries need to play a bigger role in “building a lasting peace” in the region and that the US is ready to cooperate to do so. However, he affirmed that “the challenge from China” and solving “the problems in our hemisphere” are the priority. He also did not give specific ways to achieve that goal.
For their part, other Republican presidential candidates, including former Vice President Mike Pence, former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, Mr. Tim Scott and Ms. Chris Christie, have expressed clearer positions. However, they have not received enough internal support to make a difference.
Still, if polls are accurate, voters are becoming increasingly skeptical of the massive military and financial aid the United States is providing to Ukraine, a trend that is unlikely to change anytime soon.
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