More Republicans stand against continued support to Ukraine: WSJ poll

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Wall Street Journal
5 Nov 2022 15:30
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The poll conducted by WSJ reveals a growing bipartisan rift in matters of providing continuous support for Ukraine.

Capitol lit in blue and yellow

A poll conducted by the Wall Street Journal reveals that Republicans are less likely to pursue efforts in supporting Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

Although the American population remains widely in support of continuing to provide aid to Ukraine, the matter seems to have morphed into a partisan issue as opposition from the Republican side increases.

Emerging as one of the upcoming midterm main points of discussion, ongoing support for Ukraine is beginning to fall largely out of favor from the Republicans side who say they struggle to provide valid justification for vast amounts of expenditures, whilst the US economy is itself undergoing a phase of erratic economic fluctuations.

30% compared to 6% in March said the administration is doing too much to help Ukraine, a change which is largely influenced by Republican voters as 48% say the US is doing too much, compared to 6% in a previous survey.

In March of this year, Republicans who estimated that the US wasn't doing too much to help Ukraine were recorded at 61%. That share fell down to 17% in the new survey.

An older poll revealed that 57% of poll respondents said they favor sending additional financial aid to Ukraine, while 37% said they opposed it. Of this share, 81% of Democrats said they supported additional financial aid for Ukraine, 35% of Republicans as well, and 45% of independents said the same.

The report quoted some GOP voters frustrated over the government's neglect of serious domestic problems, such as the border, crime, inflation, and other important priorities.

Since the start of the conflict, the White House has provided nearly $18 billion in security assistance to Ukraine and supplied the country with all sorts of lethal weapons, which include HIMARS long-range rocket launchers and artillery rounds.

Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the war has cost 35% of Ukraine's economy and he called on the West to provide an immediate economic relief package of $17 billion. He also requested the US to provide monthly allowances of $1.5 billion starting next year.

Many Republicans believe that money spent on addressing domestic issues is far more important than addressing the needs of its allies abroad.

This is especially emphasized by fears that China's overwhelming presence in global markets will surpass that of the US.

This doesn't mean that if Republicans were to win the elections Kiev will be left to hang dry.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.), who will likely be speaker if the GOP wins the majority, said last month that Congress will request greater accountability for the assistance funds delivered to Kiev.

Congressional sources told WSJ that lawmakers are considering plans to pass a multibillion-dollar aid package for Ukraine before year’s end as Democrats fear that a Republican-controlled Congress would be less supportive of such assistance.