Is support for aiding Ukraine stable? Or is it softening? As we approach the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion, a handful of pollsters have explored these questions. Most of the responses fall into three categories, solidarity with Ukraine, support for continued involvement, and concerns about US spending on aiding Ukraine, and each one has a distinct profile.

Solidarity: Several pollsters have explored Americans’ solidarity with Ukraine, and it is holding up well. Gallup, for example, asked people in January this year which of two options people would prefer for the US. A solid majority, 65 percent, said they would prefer supporting Ukraine in reclaiming territory, even if it prolonged the conflict, while 31 percent responded that they preferred ending the conflict quickly even if it allows Russia to keep territory. The results were virtually identical to responses from last August. A question from the early February Harvard/Harris poll asked registered voters whether the US expenditures on the war thus far were justified to protect an ally, and 64 percent said they were. In a late 2022 Ipsos poll, 57 percent favored continuing to support Ukraine until all Russian forces have withdrawn from Ukrainian territory. In Gallup’s latest tracking, only 15 percent had a favorable impression of Russia. Ukraine’s image remains overwhelmingly positive.

Support: The second group of questions asks about continued US involvement in and general support for the war. Twenty-six percent in the late January AP/NORC poll said the US should continue to have a major role, and nearly half, 49 percent, said it should have a minor one. Those responses are down slightly from last spring, but still strong. In the new poll, 24 percent said we should have no role. In other polls, around a quarter of Americans say we shouldn’t be involved. In another question, support was holding up in terms of imposing sanctions and separately, accepting refugees. In the January Fox News poll of registered voters, 64 percent roughly identical to responses in their June 2022 poll, favored continuing to provide weapons to help Ukrainians fight Russia. And in another question, 63 percent favored the US continuing to provide financial aid to help them, roughly similar to 59 percent in June. In two questions in the Harvard/Harris poll, majorities favored sending weapons such as Abrams tanks and separately US fighter jets. The AP/NORC poll provides a different impression. Forty-eight percent told their interviewers they favored providing weapons to Ukraine, down from around 60 percent in three earlier polls in March, April, and May 2022. In this three-part question, however, only 22 percent were opposed to providing weapons, and 29 percent put themselves in the middle saying they were neither in favor or opposed. Both Fox News and Harvard/Harris surveyed registered voters who have been more supportive of US involvement than the population as a whole.

In his surprise visit to Ukraine this week, President Biden reiterated that the US would support Ukraine “as long as it takes,” and he announced another substantial aid package.

In a late November Chicago Council on Global Affairs poll using the President’s formulation, 48 percent said the US should support Ukraine in the war for “as long as it takes” but 47 percent wanted the US to urge Ukraine to settle for peace as soon as possible. In July, those responses were 58 percent and 38 percent, respectively.

Spending: The third group of questions in the new polls looks specifically at levels of US spending on the war. When asked about this by the Pew Research Center, 26 percent say we are spending “too much”. This is double the response last May. The “about right” response has been stable since last spring, and the “not enough” response has declined from 42 percent to 20 percent. The view that the US is spending too much has risen for both Democrats and Republicans, but Republican concern about the cost is much higher.

The polling partners AP and NORC wrote separate releases on their poll’s new findings. The AP headline was “Ukraine aid support softens in the US.” The NORC release had a different emphasis “Continuing support for US involvement a year into the war between Russia and Ukraine.” You can find both of these storylines in the polls.

A year ago, many observers held out little hope for Ukraine, but the country’s courage and resilience have resonated with Americans and their solidarity with the people of Ukraine is strong. Concerns about the costs of the war and what continued involvement will mean are muted at this point, but they could grow.

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