A new Reuters/ Ipsos poll completed this week found that a full 73 percent of Americans back the ongoing efforts by federal authorities to deliver weapons to Ukraine for use in their fight against Russian aggression. That level of backing among the American public for the weapons delivery efforts is the highest that has been found in Reuters/ Ipsos surveys since the beginning of the current war between Russia and Ukraine; a late March poll revealed that support at 68 percent. According to Reuters, the poll also “showed solid majorities of Democrats and Republicans back U.S. sanctions on Russia and say they would prefer candidates in the Nov. 8 midterm congressional election who support military aid for Ukraine.” In other words, it’s not just the weapons deliveries: many Americans also support the Biden administration’s wide-ranging sanctions targeting Russia.
WASHINGTON, April 26 (Reuters) – Seventy-three percent of Americans support U.S. efforts to supply Ukraine with weapons, the highest level of support since Russia invaded its neighbor in February, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Tuesday.
— Idrees Ali (@idreesali114) April 26, 2022
The poll also found that about 46 percent of respondents — including nearly three-fourths of Democrats and almost one-fourth of Republicans — approve of President Joe Biden’s handling of the crisis in Ukraine. It’s occurred before that individual United States policies regarding Russia’s aggression have garnered higher levels of approval than Biden in a personal capacity — partisanship evidently more prominently kicks in when Biden becomes a subject of questioning but some of the actual policies at issue don’t change. In a separate new Reuters/ Ipsos survey, just 42 percent of overall respondents indicated they approved of Biden’s overall job performance.
⚡️ Indonesian president invites Zelensky to G20 summit.
During a phone conversation on April 27, Joko Widodo invited President Volodymyr Zelensky to take part in the G20 summit being hosted by Indonesia in November.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) April 27, 2022
That earlier survey, an ABC/ Ipsos endeavor, found that “placing tighter economic sanctions on Russia” got the approval of 79 percent of respondents, “accepting refugees from Ukraine into the U.S.” had 63 percent in favor, “sending additional U.S. weapons and equipment to Ukraine” had 70 percent behind it, and “sending additional U.S. troops to nearby European countries but not Ukraine” garnered the support of 53 percent of poll respondents. U.S. troops have been involved in recent military build-ups on NATO members’ territory in eastern Europe. (Ukraine isn’t a NATO member.) U.S. personnel have gone at least to Poland.
⚡️ Austrian embassy returns to Kyiv.
The Austrian Foreign Ministry said on April 27 that the embassy staff returned to Kyiv last week, as “an important sign of our unwavering solidarity with Ukraine.”
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) April 27, 2022
Meanwhile, the Biden administration continues ramping up its military support of the Ukrainian defense, although there remain no plans to directly involve U.S. troops in fighting between Ukraine and Russia. During a recent trip to Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken unveiled over $322 million worth of new aid for Ukraine, which a statement from State Department spokesperson Ned Price said “will provide support for the capabilities Ukraine needs as Russia’s forces train their focus on the Donbas; this assistance will also help Ukraine’s armed forces transition to more advanced weapons and air defense systems.” According to Price’s statement, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin informed Ukrainian leaders during the same trip that U.S. personnel will be providing additional training for Ukrainian forces on the usage of some of the weapons U.S. authorities are sending. As for the course of the war, Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesperson Oleksandr Motuzianyk said Russians are seeking “to establish full control over the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and to provide a land corridor to occupied Crimea.”
Some 46% of Americans – including 70% of Democrats and 24% of Republicans – approve of Biden's performance on Ukraine, the Reuters/Ipsos poll found. Biden's approval on the economy sat at 37%. For fuel and gas prices, Biden got only 32% approval.
— Idrees Ali (@idreesali114) April 26, 2022
