The Biden administration, which has stalwartly and generously supported Ukraine in its resistance to the Russian invasion of its homeland—with that backing including money, weapons, equipment, training, and other resources valued at tens of billions of dollars–has been put on the defensive with reports that Ukraine conducted an attack on Russian civilians.
As well, there is speculation that Ukraine may have used weapons it received from the United States in the attack.
On May 30, Russia said that Ukraine mounted a drone attack on residential apartment buildings in Moscow, the capital of Russia. If true, it would be the first Ukraine attack on Russian residential spaces since the war began on Feb. 24, 2022.
Within the past few weeks, Russia has stepped up aerial bombing of Ukraine, with a focus on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
Unmanned aerial drones have become staples of the conflict between the nations.
A complication for the Biden administration, if it is discovered that Ukraine had targeted Russian civilians, is that Ukraine, viewed globally as a heroic underdog to the powerful Russian bear (which holds the most nuclear warheads of all nations), would cede some of its moral advantage.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed Russia’s claims that Ukraine had intentionally attacked civilians and restated and defended the administration’s support of Ukraine.
“As you know, we’ve seen the news, and are certainly gathering information about what happened to get a better perspective and clarity about what happened,” said Jean-Pierre. “But I can speak to this more generally. We have said this before; we do not support attacks inside Russia. We’ve been very clear about that.
“We have been focused on providing Ukraine—as you’ve heard from the president, as you’ve heard from a national security advisor and many colleagues from NSC [National Security Council]—with the equipment and training they need to retake their own sovereign territory. And that’s exactly what we’ve done for more than a year.”
Jean-Pierre noted that in May, Russia delivered 17 rounds of air strikes on Kyiv, with many hitting civilian areas.
“Russia started this unprovoked aggression, this unprovoked war against Ukraine,” said Jean-Pierre. “Russia can end this at any time. They can withdraw their forces from Ukraine, instead of launching these brutal air strikes against Ukraine and their cities and on their people every day.”
American Public Views on Support for Ukraine
American adults mostly support the United States aiding Ukraine in some measure.A University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy/NORC at the University of Chicago study published on May 24 found that as of April, 58 percent favor placing sanctions on Russia, with 14 percent opposing, and 27 percent saying neither. Fifty-six percent favor accepting Ukrainian refugees into the United States, with 17 percent opposed, and 27 percent neither favoring nor opposing.
On the U.S. policy of sending weapons to Ukraine, 50 percent support, 23 percent oppose, and 26 percent don’t have an opinion. As for sending government money to Ukraine, 40 percent support, 35 percent oppose, and 24 percent say they neither favor nor oppose.
Approximately seven of 10 adults surveyed for the study believe that Russia is unjustified in invading Ukraine.
Political and Party Divide
Democrats in Congress, far more than Republicans, support the United States in giving Ukraine cash, arms, equipment, and other resources.Democrats broadly believe that backing Ukraine is in the best interest of American security. Many Republicans see support for Ukraine as meddling in a conflict that doesn’t pose a threat to America and spends money that is needed at home.
In May 2022, the House voted 368-57 to pass the White House’s $40 billion aid bill for Ukraine. All no votes were cast by Republicans. Later in the month, in the Senate, the bill passed, 86-11, with every no vote coming from a GOP senator.
President Biden signed the bill on May 21.
A GOP faction that is particularly opposed to supporting Ukraine is the House Freedom Caucus, whose members include Darrell Issa (Calif.), Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Matt Gaetz (Fla.), and Marjorie Taylor-Greene (Ga.).
Senator Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), a prominent Republican, takes heat for siding with the Biden administration on the policy of aiding Ukraine. Many consider the position evidence that Graham is a RINO (Republican In Name Only).
Among the announced candidates for the Republican nomination for president, there is no broad consensus on the issue of Ukraine. Yet all agree that American troops should not be sent to fight in the war.
Two-term South Carolina governor and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley is an advocate for the United States working with its allies to provide Ukraine the tools it needs to win the war. She does not support America giving Ukraine money. Haley says that opposing Russia is a component of a broader and necessary policy that the United States must follow to protect itself from and compete with Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.
Former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis don’t find the war to present a considerable threat to American interests and have called on the combatants to reach a settlement, whatever the terms.
Biotech magnate Vivek Ramaswamy says that defending Ukraine is not of vital importance to America and opposes sending any more money to the country. Ramaswamy does consider though, that the war and how it has affected American access to oil and gas is evidence that the United States needs to do better in working toward energy independence.
Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina believes that dealing a blow to Russia is in the best interest of the United States but says that support can’t be open-ended.
Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson is a proponent of aiding Ukraine, saying that Russia losing the war will deter China from acting aggressively.
