In July last year, a survey by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs concluded that roughly 50% of the American public believed that the United States should send troops into Ukraine in the event that Russia invaded the country. Some 48% of respondents categorically opposed the deployment of troops to the country. Interestingly, that split wasn’t a Republican–Democrat disagreement. In fact, both parties were split fairly evenly.
In 2014, the American public had quite a different attitude. Only 30% of respondents in a similar poll favored deploying American troops to handle the matter.
The survey showed how opposition to deploying U.S. troops in Ukraine in the event of a Russian invasion fell from 68% in 2014 to 48% in 2021. Curiously, though, the same survey also found that a minority of Americans support selling arms to Kyiv. Just 41% supported selling military equipment to the Ukrainian government. And, if you thought that was a mixed message, consider the latest polls that now show how a majority of Americans think sending troops into Ukraine is a bad idea.
U.S. President Joe Biden appears to have exercised restraint since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine this week, opting to implement economic sanctions on Russia in the hope that it may hurt the Russian economy enough that Putin withdraws and re-enters diplomatic discussions with the West.
It appears to have been the right choice, too – at least from a popularity standpoint.
Extensive polling from YouGov performed this month reveals that just 13% of U.S. adult citizens believe that sending soldiers to Ukraine to fight Russian soldiers is a good idea, with 55% opposing the idea.
The poll showed that 33% of U.S. adult citizens supported sending soldiers to Ukraine to help, but not to fight, and that 38% support sending weapons to Ukraine. Larger percentages of Americans supported sending financial aid to Ukraine (42%) and allowing Ukraine to join NATO (43%).
At the same time, however, the American people aren’t totally certain what the conflict is about. The survey found that one in four respondents couldn’t say whether Ukraine was an ally or an enemy, and less than half of respondents had an opinion on Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. Those who did have an opinion on the president were torn almost 50-50.
Americans View Russia Unfavorably
Polls also suggest that, while the American public no longer appears to favor sending in troops to fight Russian forces, they do believe that the conflict is a critical threat to the United States.
A Gallup poll released on Friday showed how over half of Americans believe the conflict, which has escalated into a full-scale war, is a critical threat to American interests. The poll was taken between February 1 and 17, showing 52% of Americans gravely concerned about the escalating conflict. It constituted an eight-point increase since 2015, when 44% of respondents said the annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Russia was a critical threat to the United States.
The poll also revealed the least favorable attitude from Americans towards Russia than at any time over the last three decades, with only 15% of respondents having a positive view of Russia. 85% of respondents viewed Russia unfavorably.
Incredibly, before the 2014 annexation of Crimea, a majority of Americans viewed Russia favorably. It shows that Russia’s efforts to expand its borders to take back control of former Soviet Union states have dramatically altered America’s position on the country and undone decades of healing and diplomacy established in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Threat Or Competition?
While Americans overwhelmingly have a negative view of Russia and consider the Russia-Ukraine conflict a threat, respondents to a January survey suggested that Russia was more of a competitor than it was a threat.
A survey conducted between January 10 and 17, before the United States put troops on high alert and NATO announced that military support would be given to Ukraine and bordering countries, found that 49% of American adults consider Russia to be a competitor. 41% said Russia was an enemy.
With opinions split on Russia, President Joe Biden’s decision not to send troops to fight in Ukraine appears to have been a wise one. While most Americans see the crisis as a threat, Americans don’t appear to be overwhelmingly supportive of engaging U.S. troops in another overseas war.
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and report on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.
