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NBC News Poll: 61% of Americans Support Ukraine, While 49% Believe the US President Sides with Russia

2025.03.17

The main divide is along political lines: Republicans say their sympathies are not tied to either side, Democrats support Ukraine

A NBC News poll showed that 49% of registered voters believe Trump sympathizes with Russia in its war against Ukraine, while only 2% support Russia, and 61% support Ukraine. Another 35% said they do not sympathize with either side, and 2% were unsure.

The poll was conducted from March 7 to 11 among 1,000 registered voters through telephone interviews and an online survey.

49% of respondents believe Trump sympathizes with Russia, 40% think he does not favor either side, and 8% are confident that the US president is on Ukraine's side.

55% of registered voters disapprove of Trump's actions regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine, while 42% approve.

Among those whose personal sympathies are more aligned with Ukraine, there are more Democrats (88% of them chose Ukraine), independents (59%), as well as people with higher education and income levels. Latino voters are almost evenly split between Ukraine and "neither side."

As noted by sociologists, the main divide is along political lines: Republicans and conservative voters are more likely to say their sympathies are not tied to either country, with 57% of Republicans holding this view. However, there is also a divide within the party itself. For instance, 53% of Republicans with higher education say their sympathies are more aligned with Ukraine, while 62% of Republicans without higher education say their sympathies are not tied to either country.

Most Democrats, independents, suburban women, and voters of all age groups (except 50-64 years old) believe Trump is more favorable to Russia. Among Republicans, 70% believe Trump does not sympathize with either country. Another 14% believe Trump is more favorable to Russia, and 13% believe he is more favorable to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, American voters give Ukraine and Zelensky much higher positive ratings than Russia and Vladimir Putin: 46% of voters view Zelensky positively, 32% negatively, which is almost equal to 41% viewing Ukraine positively and 28% negatively.

Only 6% view Russia positively, 68% negatively, while 3% view Putin positively, 84% negatively.

Democrat Jeff Horwitt of Hart Research Associates, who conducted the poll, noted that this is the first time in history when American public opinion and voters' views on the president's position are so contradictory.

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