President Volodymyr Zelensky landed in Washington DC yesterday on his first international trip since the start of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He was received pompously by Joe Biden at the White House and was applauded by members of Congress after giving an emotional speech. In addition to this, she has attracted international media attention and has appeared in numerous photos in which she appears with various high-ranking figures of the US government.
Zelensky’s journey is important for both symbolic and practical reasons. From a symbolic point of view, it implies the defense of the common values of the two countries, reinforces the commitment to bilateral cooperation in the context of the war, and seals the spread of the message of the Ukrainian forces. , the alliance, in partnership with the West, remains resilient in the face of Russian aggression. From a practical standpoint, Zelenskiy’s visit marks a new phase in the conflict that comes with the announcement of more US military aid to Ukraine: a new $1.85 billion package that includes the famous “patriotic” missiles.
Since the beginning of the conflict in Eastern Europe, support for Ukraine has been one of the rare topics of bipartisan consensus in the United States. The American public assimilated the urgency and seriousness of the situation, and together the political leaders approved several millionaire relief packages for the country. However, recent polls show that as the war continues, Americans’ concerns about this issue have waned.
For example, data from the Pew Research Center shows that in September 2022, only a quarter of adults said they followed the news about the war “excessively or too closely”. A few months ago, it was 36% in May. According to the survey: “At the moment, only two in ten (18%) Americans say that the United States did not provide enough support to Ukraine in the conflict. This represents a radical change from the start of the war: in March, at the start of the conflict shortly after, % 42 said the US did not provide enough support”. Concerns about conflict and what they think is appropriate to do or not to do about it also find significant differences when the analysis takes into account partisan preferences of the participants.
The December 2022 figures released by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs confirm the notion that there is a growing divide in support for Ukraine. According to their polls, almost half of Americans (47%) now say the United States should press Ukraine for a peace deal as soon as possible. According to the material, especially Republican support for aid to Ukraine has declined noticeably during the year, and overall, few on both sides say that the United States should support Ukraine “for as long as it takes.”
The United States has just elected a Republican majority to the House of Representatives. Joe Biden has one of the worst approval ratings in history, and the unofficial 2024 presidential campaign is in full swing. The country is experiencing one of the greatest periods of political polarization in its history, and at the same time, society is dealing with crises caused by inflation, which predominantly affects fuel and food prices.
The truth is that despite the loving cheers directed at Zelensky and the warm applause in his speech, a series of unease about the US role in this conflict is beginning to appear in the corridors of Washington. How can I explain to the American voter at the end of the day that he must finance the defense of democracy overseas, while the perception that his quality of life has only deteriorated in his own country?
Don’t make the mistake of commits that seem to have no end. Still, it is necessary to follow the scenes closely in the next episodes.
source: Noticias
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.