A new poll by Reuters shows only 41% believe Washington should continue to send arms to Kiev. The White House is pushing Congress to pass a $24 billion aid package for Ukraine. However, the assistance package is being held up as the House seeks a new Speaker, causing some in Kiev to panic.
The two-day Reuters/Ipsos poll found 41% of Americans support sending more arms to Ukraine, while 35% opposed further military assistance. When the same survey was conducted in May, 46% of Americans backed sending arms, while 29% were opposed.
A recent Chicago Council on Global Affairs poll found the country is divided on whether aid to Ukraine has been worth it. 53% responded the billions sent to Ukraine was “worth the cost,” and 45% say it has not been worth the cost. The same survey found 63% of Americans favor sending more weapons to Kiev, although Republican support slipped to 50%.
In August, CNN asked Americans if they approved of sending more aid to Ukraine. A majority of people who responded, 55%, and 71% of Republicans said they did not want Congress to pass another assistance package.
The debate over the budget and the House seeking a new Speaker has delayed a vote on President Joe Biden’s proposed $24 billion assistance package for Ukraine. That aid includes $17 billion in weapons.
A group of Republican legislators have pledged to vote against any bills that include more aid to Ukraine. The struggle to pass the assistance has caused anxiety in the White House and Kiev. A member of the Ukrainian Parliament said, “We are freaking out. For us it is a disaster.”
Biden also expressed concern while noting the vast majority of Congress support passing the $24 billion package. “It does worry me,” he said. “But I know there are a majority of members of the House and Senate, in both parties, who have said that they support funding Ukraine.”
