Poll Shows Declining U.S. Support for Ukraine as Partisan Divide Widens

President Zelenskyy Grateful to Poland Despite Recent Tensions.

U.S. Support for Ukraine Declines:

• A recent ABC News/Washington Post poll reveals that U.S. support for Ukraine’s war effort against Russia is on the decline.
• According to the poll conducted from September 15-20, 41% of respondents believe that the U.S. is doing too much to support Ukraine, up from 33% in February.
• Only half of the respondents now believe that the U.S. is providing the right amount or not enough support, down from 60% in February.
• The decline in support aligns with increasing opposition from Republican members of Congress regarding funding requests for military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Partisan Divide Influencing Views:

• The poll results reflect a significant partisan divide. Among respondents leaning Republican, 58% feel that the U.S. is offering too much support to Ukraine, compared to 22% of those leaning Democrat who share that view.
• The current funding request under consideration in Congress for Ukraine amounts to $24 billion, and the total aid provided thus far exceeds $100 billion.

Developments in Ukraine:

• A Ukrainian drone strike reportedly caused minimal damage to an administrative building in Kursk, Russia. The target is believed to be the Kursk branch of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB).
• Russian attacks in the Kherson province resulted in two deaths and eight injuries, including five in the city of Kherson.
• Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr., previously sentenced to 25 years for denouncing Russia’s war in Ukraine, has been transferred to a maximum-security prison in Siberia.
• In Kremenchuk, a Russian missile strike injured 55 people, with one fatality.

Zelenskyy Thanks Poland for Support:

• President Zelenskyy expressed gratitude towards Poland for its support during his visit to the U.S. Despite recent tensions, he awarded state honors to two Polish volunteers.
• Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki previously warned Zelenskyy against insulting Poles and announced a halt to weapons shipments to Ukraine.
• Easing tensions were evident as Polish President Andrzej Duda announced transit corridors to facilitate Ukrainian grain exports, following a trade dispute.

Productive Week for Zelenskyy:

• President Zelenskyy’s U.S. visit yielded positive outcomes, including a $325 million military aid package from the White House and $650 million in security assistance from Canada.
• Several business leaders, including Michael Bloomberg, Larry Fink, and Bill Ackman, expressed interest in investing in Ukraine’s reconstruction.
• Ukraine’s Air Force reported Russia launching cruise missiles and drones towards the southern Odesa province.
• Ukraine has recently taken a more aggressive stance, targeting locations deep within Russian territory, including Moscow.

As U.S. support for Ukraine faces a decline influenced by a partisan divide, President Zelenskyy continues his diplomatic efforts and receives commitments of aid and investment to rebuild Ukraine.