Most Republicans Think Ukraine War Is ‘Serious Threat’ to US: Poll

A majority of Republicans called Russia’s war against Ukraine a “serious threat” to US interests in the weeks before Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared that the conflict was not a matter of “vital national interest,” Find a new Gallup poll.

The esteemed polling firm found that 62% of registered Republicans said the invasion by Moscow a year ago “presents a serious threat to the vital interests of the United States” — the highest of any political affiliation, with just 58% of Democrats and 51% of independents agreeing. . with the statement.

However, among Republicans and Democrats, those numbers are down from their highest levels at the start of the war in February 2022, when 72% and 64% supported that statement, respectively.

DeSantis kicked off an internal debate among Republicans about US support for the Kiev government on Monday, when he told Fox News host Tucker Carlson in response to a written questionnaire: “While the United States has many vital national interests — securing our borders, addressing the crisis of readiness within our military, achieving Energy security and independence, checking the economic, cultural and military power of the Chinese Communist Party – becoming embroiled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them.

The poll released Monday found that just 9% of Republicans said the Russia-Ukraine war was “not at all a significant threat” to US interests, compared with 8% of independents and 5% of Democrats.

29% of Republicans said the conflict was an “important but not serious threat,” compared to 40% of independents and 37% of Democrats.

DeSantis, 44, is expected to launch his 2024 presidential campaign later this year. He received a pre-emptive endorsement Wednesday from powerful conservative Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas).

“The next president of the United States must be an energetic and energetic leader with the faith, vision and courage to chart a new course,” Roy said in a statement.

He added that “America needs a leader who will truly stand up for it and empower the people from the destructive power of unfettered governments and corporate excess, profligate spending, and cultural indoctrination awakenings.”

“That boss is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.”

But other members of the Republican Party criticized DeSantis for his statement about Ukraine.

“[The war is] It’s not a territorial dispute in the sense that it would be more of a territorial dispute if the United States decided it wanted to invade Canada or take over the Bahamas,” Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) told radio host Hugh Hewitt.

“Just because someone claims something doesn’t mean it belongs to them.”

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina argued that if the West allows Putin to win, it will lead to “more conflict.”

When it comes to Putin, you either pay now or pay later. tweeted Graham, 67.

“Caving in to Putin in Ukraine, in terms of US national security interests, is Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan on steroids.”

GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley alleged that DeSantis was trying to imitate former President Donald Trump.

“America is much better off with a Ukraine victory than a Russian victory,” said the 51-year-old former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the United Nations.

Favorability for Russia has fallen by 15% among American voters since last year’s invasion – its lowest level since the fall of the Soviet Union.

Nearly 70% view Ukraine favorably, and 89% describe the war as a “serious” or “significant” threat to “vital” US interests.

The Gallup poll was conducted between February 1 and 23, and included more than 1,000 American voters. The margin of error was plus or minus 4 percentage points.