Republican support for Ukraine has increased dramatically in recent months as President Donald Trump has become more critical of Russia’s approach to the war and lack of interest in negotiating a peace deal.
Ahead of Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs released a new survey showing Republicans have become much more supportive of providing Ukraine with military aid and economic assistance. The views of GOP voters appear to track closely with Trump’s growing dissatisfaction with Putin’s ruthless approach to the war and the breakdown of peace talks.
Since March, Republicans have shifted 21 points in favor of the U.S. sending military aid to Ukraine and nine points towards giving Ukraine economic support. A majority of Republicans, 51 percent, believe the U.S. should provide Ukraine with military aid, as do 62 percent of Americans overall.
In recent months, Trump has become more critical of Putin’s willingness to attack civilian targets in Ukraine and his two-faced approach to diplomatic negotiations. Although Trump remains critical of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, the U.S. and Ukraine agreed to a landmark minerals deal earlier this year, deepening American economic ties to Ukraine for the long term.
Most Americans, 60 percent, view Zelensky favorably, although only 40 percent of Republicans do. GOP favorability towards Zelensky has gone up since March when it was at a lowly 28 percent following his infamous confrontation with Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Large bipartisan majorities, including 74 percent of Republicans, favor increased economic and diplomatic sanctions on Russia. Likewise, the overwhelming majority of Americans dislike Putin, with only 10 percent expressing a favorable view of him, a figure that ticks up to 14 percent among Republicans.
Sending U.S. troops to Ukraine remains a nonstarter for the majority of Americans, as only 35 believe the U.S. should bring troops into Ukraine to help the government defend itself. A fifth of Republicans support sending troops into Ukraine, compared with 48 percent of Democrats and 34 percent of independents.
A potential Russian refusal to sign a peace deal had little impact on public attitudes about the U.S. approach to the war in Ukraine. The Chicago Council’s poll was conducted online from July 18 to July 30 with a sample size of 2,148 adults nationwide. The survey’s margin of error is plus or minus 2.2. percentage points.
A separate survey from Pew Research taken in early August had similar results. Pew’s study found that the share of Republicans who believe the U.S. has a responsibility to help Ukraine went up 12 points between March and August 2025 to 35 percent. The number of Republicans saying the U.S. provides too much support for Ukraine dropped from 47 percent to 30 percent over the same time frame.
Trump and Putin are meeting in Anchorage, Alaska to discuss Russia’s war in Ukraine and the U.S.-Russia economic relationship. Trump has threatened further economic sanctions and punishment on Russia if Putin continues to reject U.S. attempts at brokering a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Zelensky is not taking part in the summit but hopes it will facilitate future three-way talks between the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia.