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Majority of Americans Back Ukraine Aid, New Harvard–HarrisX Poll Reveals

Majority of Americans Back Ukraine Aid, New Harvard–HarrisX Poll Reveals

A new Harvard–HarrisX Poll, conducted August 20–21 among 2,025 registered voters in the United States, shows strong support for continued US backing of Ukraine.

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Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko
Dariia Mykhailenko
News Writer

According to the poll, 67% of voters believe the Trump administration should continue providing weapons to Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia if Moscow refuses to negotiate and prolongs the war. Nearly seven in ten (69%) also support granting Ukraine direct US security guarantees if Kyiv makes concessions to end the war. Support for such guarantees has risen slightly since July.

67% back continued US weapons and sanctions against Russia, while 69% favor giving Kyiv direct security guarantees if it makes concessions to end the war. (Source: Harvard–Harris Poll)
67% back continued US weapons and sanctions against Russia, while 69% favor giving Kyiv direct security guarantees if it makes concessions to end the war. (Source: Harvard–Harris Poll)

At the same time, the survey highlights widespread doubts about recent diplomacy. Three in five voters (60%) say Trump’s meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin was unsuccessful in advancing peace, while voters are split on his talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders (51% successful vs. 49% unsuccessful).

Most Americans (60%) believe Trump’s meeting with Putin failed to advance peace, while voters are split on his talks with Zelenskyy and European leaders—51% see them as successful, 49% as unsuccessful. (Source: Harvard–Harris Poll)
Most Americans (60%) believe Trump’s meeting with Putin failed to advance peace, while voters are split on his talks with Zelenskyy and European leaders—51% see them as successful, 49% as unsuccessful. (Source: Harvard–Harris Poll)

Still, 57% agree that Trump deserves credit for orchestrating these meetings, with a majority doubting President Joe Biden could have achieved the same.

A majority of voters (57%) say Trump deserves credit for arranging high-level meetings on Ukraine, regardless of their outcomes, while 43% disagree. (Source: Harvard–Harris Poll)
A majority of voters (57%) say Trump deserves credit for arranging high-level meetings on Ukraine, regardless of their outcomes, while 43% disagree. (Source: Harvard–Harris Poll)

Perceptions of the two wartime leaders are sharply different. Two-thirds of voters (67%) say Zelenskyy genuinely wants to end the war, while an equal share believe Putin is “playing games” with the West—though that figure has slightly declined since last month.

Americans doubt Putin’s intentions, with 67% saying he is “playing games” rather than seeking peace, while two-thirds (67%) believe Zelenskyy genuinely wants to end the war—a rise from 61% in July. (Source: Harvard–Harris Poll)
Americans doubt Putin’s intentions, with 67% saying he is “playing games” rather than seeking peace, while two-thirds (67%) believe Zelenskyy genuinely wants to end the war—a rise from 61% in July. (Source: Harvard–Harris Poll)

Trump’s personal handling of the war also divides opinion. A majority (58%) say he has been too soft on Putin, while 38% believe his approach to Zelenskyy has been “about right”—an improvement from July. Just over half of voters (52%) say they are satisfied with his overall management of Ukraine-Russia negotiations, up from 47% last month.

Most voters (58%) say Trump has not been tough enough on Putin and Russia, while opinions are more divided on his approach to Ukraine: 38% say “about right,” 33% “not tough enough,” and 29% “too tough.” (Source: Harvard–Harris Poll)
Most voters (58%) say Trump has not been tough enough on Putin and Russia, while opinions are more divided on his approach to Ukraine: 38% say “about right,” 33% “not tough enough,” and 29% “too tough.” (Source: Harvard–Harris Poll)

Finally, the survey underscores that most Americans see Ukraine as the more valuable partner for US interests. Nearly 70% say the relationship with Kyiv — which has “kept Russian aggression in Europe at bay through its military ingenuity”—is more important than ties with Russia, viewed by 31% as a counterweight to China.

Nearly seven in ten Americans (69%) say the U.S. relationship with Ukraine is more valuable than ties with Russia, citing shared economic and security benefits — a view held across party lines. (Source: Harvard–Harris Poll)
Nearly seven in ten Americans (69%) say the U.S. relationship with Ukraine is more valuable than ties with Russia, citing shared economic and security benefits — a view held across party lines. (Source: Harvard–Harris Poll)

The poll, conducted online by The Harris Poll and HarrisX, has a margin of error of ±2.2 percentage points.

Earlier, it was reported that Russia’s Arctic oil industry is facing severe disruption after new US sanctions hit tankers and storage facilities. The measures have forced Asian buyers to halt deliveries of previously purchased crude, leaving stockpiles to grow and logistics under strain.

The restrictions cover all three of Russia’s main Arctic oil fields—Novoportovskoye, ARCO, and Varandey—which together pump about 300,000 barrels per day. Because Arctic exports rely on highly specialized vessels and infrastructure, the sanctions have created major bottlenecks for a sector that makes up roughly 10% of Russia’s seaborne oil trade.

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