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Western leaders are all in, but their citizens have more pressing problems at home, data shows
Whether by sanctions on Moscow or arms deliveries to Kiev, Western leaders have thrown their full support behind Ukraine in response to Russia’s military operation there. However, as the conflict nears its third month, their citizens are increasingly focused on domestic issues.
How important is Ukraine for people around the world?
Regardless of whether their leaders have sided with Ukraine or not, citizens of 26 out of 27 countries surveyed by the Ipsos International Research Center put “inflation” as their number one concern in an April survey . These include countries that have taken a hard line against Russia (like the US, UK, Canada, and Poland), and those that haven’t condemned Moscow (like India, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia).
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Sanctions hurt US more than Russia – poll
Poverty, unemployment, crime, and corruption made up the four most worrying issues behind inflation, with “military conflict between nations” coming in at a distant 11th, between climate change and immigration control.
Do Westerners want to send weapons to Ukraine?
Some do. While the US has already given nearly $4 billion worth of arms to Ukraine and is on the cusp of authorizing another $40 billion military and economic aid package, a majority of respondents say they’re “okay” with Ukraine losing the conflict with Russia, according to a recent Democracy Institute poll . Furthermore, they consider Russia the fourth biggest threat to America and would rather see President Joe Biden than Russian President Vladimir Putin leave office.
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UK looking for Soviet weaponry to prop up Ukraine
Yet a majority (59%) polled by Ipsos in the US last month supported arming Ukraine, as did majorities in the UK, Netherlands, Sweden, Canada, Poland, France, Germany, and Australia.majority want to go a step further and send “peacekeeping” troops into Ukraine, as ruling party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski has suggested but Poland’s NATO allies have been reluctant to do. Sending Polish troops into Ukraine would risk open war between NATO and Russia.
What about sanctions?
Sanctions still enjoy broad approval. Multiple polls show that 67% of Americans and 80% of EU citizens support economic penalties on Moscow. In the UK, 78% of people polled by Ipsos this month support economic sanctions on Russia, but fewer are willing to accept higher food and energy prices in order to hurt Russia’s economy.
Speaking of sanctions
Sanctions have consequences and they have caused financial pain for the West as well as Russia. In the US, where citizens are struggling with record gas prices, multi-decade high inflation, and shortages of food and consumer goods, president Joe Biden has attempted to pin the blame on Russia, with his officials deploying the phrase “Putin’s price hike.”
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Surge in Americans reporting financial worries – poll
Americans aren’t buying the spin. Biden’s approval ratings have bottomed out in multiple polls, with his handling of the economy rated particularly dismally. According to some of the most recent figures, just 29% of Americans approve of Biden’s economic performance, 55% say he’s actively made the economy worse, and vast majorities say he’s not doing enough to tackle inflation (81%) or reduce shortages (73%).losing public confidence in their management of the economy – typically their strong suit. Germany’s Olaf Scholz is also losing public support amid a drop in industrial output and a predicted decimation of the German economy should Russian energy imports be banned.
Do Westerners support NATO?
The conflict in Ukraine has reinvigorated the Cold War-era NATO alliance, with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg calling for more investment from member states and more deployments in Eastern Europe. Approval of the US’ leadership of the military bloc soared in March, and citizens of Finland now overwhelmingly support joining the alliance, with 76% supporting membership this month compared to 53% in February.
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Finland’s NATO membership will trigger response – Moscow
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin stated on Thursday that they intend to “rapidly” seek NATO membership.oppose NATO membership, while a slim majority of people in Ireland – also neutral – want to stay out of the alliance.
RT (Russia Today) is a state-owned news organization funded by the Russian government. The information provided by this news source is being included by the Libertarian Hub not as an endorsement of the Russian government, but rather because it is being actively censored by Big Tech, Western governments and the corporate press. During times of conflict it is imperative that we have access to both sides of the story so we can form our own opinions, even if both sides are spewing their own propaganda. The censorship of RT, despite likely being a propaganda outfit for the Russian government, reduces our ability to hear one side of the conflict. For that reason, the Libertarian Hub will temporarily republish the RSS feed from RT. Visit https://rt.com
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