An Axios/Ispos Two Americas Index released on Thursday (March 16) show that 42 percent of Republicans support the United States giving Ukraine financial support and weapons.
Republican support for Ukrainian aid is lower than among average Americans. About three in five (59 percent) Americans support the U.S., providing Ukraine with weapons and financial support in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
Democrats’ support for providing Ukraine with aid in the conflict is also higher than the American average, with 79 percent sharing support for the U.S. providing Ukraine with weapons and financial support.
Sixty percent of Independents also support assisting Ukraine with weapons and finances.
GOP leaders have been divided about how the U.S. should proceed with supporting Ukraine in the war against Russia.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has shared his disapproval of the U.S. giving Ukraine aid, responding to a questionnaire from Fox News host Tucker Carlson, asserting that providing such aid to Ukraine isn’t in the United States’ “vital interest,” claiming the war is a “territorial dispute.”
Former President Donald Trump also shared his disapproval of aiding Ukraine, also describing assisting Ukraine in the war as not a “vital interest.”
DeSantis’s remarks prompted disagreement from several Republican Senators, who distanced themselves from the Florida Governor’s stance.
Other Republicans also voiced their opposition to DeSantis’ sentiments, including former Representative Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and former South Carolina Governor and current presidential candidate Nikki Haley.
Fifty-four percent of Americans also agreed with the statement that the U.S. focusing on homeland security and national defense had made the nation safer over the last two decades, while two-thirds shared their opposition to reducing U.S. military and national defense funding.
