Only 44% of US Republicans have confidence in Zelensky: Poll

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Responsible Statecraft
11 May 2023 13:24

52% of Republicans and 77% of Democrats say they had a positive opinion of Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after they both delivered statements at Mariinsky Palace on an unannounced visit in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023 (Reuters)

A new poll in the United States showed that less than half of Republicans believe that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would do the "right thing regarding world affairs," Responsible Statecraft reported on Thursday.

In the survey conducted by Pew Research Center between March 20-26, which included over 3,500 American adults, only 44% of Republic respondents said they trust Zelensky, while 71% of Democrats said they support the Ukrainian leader, which marks a 27 percent bipartisan split.

Asked about their general opinion on Ukraine, 52% of Republicans and 77% of Democrats said they hold positive views on the European country.

Growing discontent with Washington's insistence on flooding Ukraine with American cash and weaponry has been notably increasing among Republicans.

In April, US Republicans wrote a letter to US President Joe Biden asking him to end Washington's military support to Kiev due to the risk it creates of a direct war breaking out with Russia.

However, dissatisfaction with the war in Ukraine and its impact on the global and US economy is no longer limited to the right. A survey in February also by Pew Research study showed that Democrats that believe that Biden's administration is giving Kiev "too much" rose between March and February three folds, from 5 to 15 percent.

While US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy made a U-turn on his position from Ukraine, announcing that US military aid will continue “as long as I am Speaker,” less than two months from saying that he would not support a “blank check” for Ukraine, while other GOP prominent politicians voice a very different view.

Former US President Donald Trump said in January that the war in Ukraine was a “tragic waste of human life” and claimed that, if he was in office, he would stop the war in one day.

Trump reaffirmed his position earlier this week, telling CNN that he would end the war between Russia and Ukraine in 24 hours.

“I want everybody to stop dying. They’re dying. Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And I’ll have that done,” he said.

“I’ll have that done in 24 hours. I’ll have it done. You need the power of the presidency to do it.”

Trump's top presidential-race rival also shares the same view as the former President.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called in April for a ceasefire in Ukraine, revealing increased doubt over the benefits to the United States from supporting Kiev.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — Trump’s leading challenger — has also expressed cautious skepticism about the value of backing Ukraine to the hilt and appeared to call for a ceasefire in April.

Asked whether they consider that the United States should prioritize its efforts domestically or abroad, 70% of Republicans said it's best to “concentrate on problems here at home,” while 60% of Democrat respondents said it’s “best for the future of our country to be active in world affairs.”

Support for NATO saw the approval of 49% of Republicans, massively lower than that of the Democrats at 76%.