Fact Checking Claims That Republicans Want to ‘Abandon Ukraine’
A tweet from the Lincoln Project claims that “Republicans want America to abandon Ukraine.”
This claim is misleading.
In May 2022, the House approved $40 billion in aid to Ukraine on a vote of 368-57. The Senate overwhelmingly approved the aid package, in a 86-11 vote. In a statement after the approval of the Ukraine aid, President Joe Biden spoke about “a clear bipartisan message to the world that the people of the United States stand together with the brave people of Ukraine as they defend their democracy and freedom.”
A recent YouGov poll asked participants whether they sympathized more with Russia or Ukraine. The majority of Republicans, 64 percent, responded with “Ukraine,” while only 8 percent responded with “Russia.” For Democrats, 81 percent responded with “Ukraine,” and 4 percent responded with “Russia.”
Further, 77 percent of Republicans have a “somewhat” or “very” unfavorable view of Vladimir Putin.
Furthermore, recent Gallup polling shows that 50 percent of Republicans support Ukraine in reclaiming territory even if it means a prolonged conflict. The majority of polled Democrats, 79 percent, support Ukraine in reclaiming lost territory. Only 43 percent of Republicans and 9 percent of Democrats, per Gallup, believe that the U.S. is doing “too much to help Ukraine.”
In an interview with Punchbowl News after the Lincoln Project tweet went out, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said a post-midterm GOP majority would not provide Ukraine with a “free blank check,” perhaps reflecting growing skepticism among House Republicans on the issue of Ukraine funding.
But given previous GOP support for funding Ukraine and overwhelming support for Ukraine over Russia in polling, it’s not accurate to claim that Republicans “want Americans to abandon Ukraine.”
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