Media: Americans split along party lines in support for Ukraine funding, poll finds

A survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that Americans are split along party lines on whether they support additional funding for Ukraine.

The US aid to Ukraine has been stalled in Congress for months, benefiting Russia on the battleground as Ukraine’s stocks of artillery munitions and missiles deplete without the much-needed supplies from the US.

The survey, conducted on 13-18 February among 1,161 adults, reveals a shift in views of Americans since November, with more Democrats now believing that US aid to Ukraine is “too little.” In contrast, the majority of Republicans remain convinced that it is “too much.”

This week, at a White House meeting, US President Joe Biden urged the Republican speaker, Mike Johnson, to take up the foreign aid package, which includes assistance for Ukraine. Johnson responded by saying that Congress “must take care of America’s needs first.”

The poll reveals that most Republicans share Johnson’s view, with 55% saying the US is spending too much on Ukraine aid, a slight decrease from the 59% reported in November.

In addition, support for increasing Ukraine aid has grown among Democrats, and the share of those who say the US is spending “too much” or “about the right amount” has dropped in the past three months.

The poll also shows that two years after Russia’s 2022 invasion, less than half of Republicans agree that it’s very important to prevent Russia from seizing more Ukrainian territory and provide general aid to the Ukrainian military, while the majority of Democrats think it’s necessary.

Meanwhile, the US Senate approved a short-term stopgap spending bill that would keep federal agencies operating and avert a partial government shutdown. According to Reuters, 77 senators voted in favor of the decision, and 13 opposed it.

The measure was approved after the Republican-controlled House of Representatives backed it with less than 36 hours before funding was set to expire.

The bill that enables legislators to continue negotiations on budget bills, reach a consensus, and ultimately adopt them will next go to US President Joe Biden to be signed into law.

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