More than half of Americans disapprove of President Donald Trump’s handling of the war in Ukraine, according to multiple polls.
Why It Matters
Trump has turned American foreign policy on its head since the start of his second presidential term in January. This was highlighted by the public spat with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a televised press meeting, which ultimately ended with Trump pausing military aid to Ukraine.
America’s apparent shift in stance, led by a president who has previously praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, has stunned U.S. allies, sparking European nations to bolster their own defenses, fearing they can no longer rely solely on the United States for military support.
It has also raised questions about America’s global standing, with some polls revealing that Americans think Trump’s foreign policy is harmful to the United States, suggesting his stance on Ukraine may have long-term repercussions for the country’s influence and credibility in international affairs.
What To Know
Only 36 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, while 47 percent disapprove, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll of 1,422 U.S. adults, conducted between March 11 and 12, 2025.
In addition, a significant portion of Americans, 56 percent, including 27 percent of Republicans and 89 percent of Democrats, believe that Trump is “too closely aligned” with Russia. However, 40 percent of respondents disagreed with that sentiment, and 4 percent chose not to answer.
Mystyslav Chernov/AP
Notably, the poll also highlighted that nearly half (44 percent) of respondents supported Trump’s plan to “condition U.S. military support for Ukraine on the U.S. getting a share of Ukraine’s mineral wealth,” with two-thirds of Republicans backing the idea. However, only one in five Democrats were in favor. The poll had a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points.
Meanwhile, a separate CNN poll, conducted from March 6-9 among 1,206 U.S. adults, revealed 55 percent disapprove of his approach to the war in Ukraine, while 44 percent approve.
Some 59 percent of Americans also believe Trump’s approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict is unlikely to result in long-term peace. Additionally, 59 percent disapprove of Trump’s handling of the U.S. relationship with Russia. Half of Americans also believe Trump’s foreign policy on the war is harmful to the United States, compared to only 29 percent who think it is beneficial.
Republican sentiment on Trump’s foreign policy is also beginning to shift, 15 percent expressing concerns that his decisions have hurt America’s standing on the global stage. Further, 18 percent of Republicans think his approach to the Ukraine war is detrimental to the U.S., and 28 percent doubt his ability to bring long-term peace between Russia and Ukraine.
Overall, Americans remain divided on the U.S.’s role in the war, with 38 percent saying the U.S. is doing too little for Ukraine, while 32 percent think it is doing too much, and 30 percent believe the amount of support is just right. The poll had a margin of error of +/-3.3 percent.
Another poll from Quinnipiac University, conducted between March 6-10, 2025, found that only 38 percent of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the war, while 55 percent disapprove. Additionally, 58 percent of voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of his recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with only 35 percent offering their approval. There’s a notable partisan divide on this issue, with Democrats and independents overwhelmingly disapproving of Trump’s actions, while Republicans express greater support.
The Quinnipiac poll also showed that 56 percent of voters disapprove of pausing all military aid to Ukraine, with 70 percent of Republicans approving of such a move. When it comes to Trump’s approach to Ukraine, 50 percent of voters feel he is too tough, while 35 percent believe his stance is appropriate. The poll had a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percentage points.
The polls come after the president had a heated confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on February 28, which resulted in Trump pausing military aid to Ukraine.
His administration has since suggested a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, accepted by Ukraine, but receiving a lukewarm reception from Russia.
What People Are Saying
Donald Trump said Wednesday that “it’s up to Russia now” as his administration presses Moscow to agree to the ceasefire, adding that if they do “I think that would be 80 percent of the way to getting this horrible bloodbath” ended.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X: “We must move toward peace, toward security guarantees, and we need to free our people. We are determined to work as quickly as possible with our partners. The key factor is our partners’ ability to ensure Russia’s readiness not to deceive but to genuinely end the war. Because right now, Russian strikes have not stopped.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday: “We agree with the proposals to halt the fighting, but we proceed from the assumption that the ceasefire should lead to lasting peace and remove the root causes of the crisis.”
What Happens Next
Questions remain over how Trump’s approach to diplomacy will influence U.S. support for Ukraine and its allies. With ongoing geopolitical shifts, the implications of the latest confrontation could reverberate well beyond the White House.
