Majority Of Americans Think Protecting Economy—Not Sanctioning Russia—Should Be Country’s Top Priority, Poll Finds

Topline

More than half of Americans now believe the country’s top priority should be staving off damage to the economy rather than punishing Russia for invading Ukraine, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll, as soaring costs and inflation amid the ongoing war prompt a reassessment of priorities.

Key Facts

A marginal majority of Americans—51%—believe the country’s top priority should be limiting damage to the U.S. economy rather than sanctioning Russia, according to the poll of 1,172 adults conducted between May 12 to May 16.

A significant minority—45%—of the adults polled think the nation’s biggest priority should be sanctioning Russia as effectively as possible for its invasion of Ukraine, even if it comes at the expense of the U.S. economy.

The figures—the reverse of April, when 51% supported the most effective sanctions and 45% supported limiting damage to the U.S. economy—underscore changing public sentiment towards sanctions as the war drags on and inflation soars.

In March, Americans were even more solidly in favor of effectively sanctioning Russia, with 55% believing it should be the nation’s biggest priority.

Most Americans still believe the country should play a role in the war in Ukraine and should sanction Russia, however, with 32% believing the U.S. should have a major role and 49% thinking it should have a minor role, the poll found.

Tangent

President Joe Biden’s approval rating hit a new low this month, an AP-NORC poll found, as the country fends off multiple issues including soaring inflation, war in Ukraine, a baby formula shortage and the Covid-19 pandemic. Just 39% of Americans polled approved of Biden’s performance, down from 45% last month and 63% a year ago. A clear majority of Americans—two-thirds—disapproved of Biden’s handling of the economy.

Big Number

$40 billion. That’s the size of the military and humanitarian aid package to Ukraine Biden signed on Saturday after it was overwhelmingly approved by the House and Senate. The poll found Americans are still broadly in favor of sending funds to Ukraine, with 44% supporting sending funds, 32% opposed and 23% neither supporting or opposing the idea.

Key Background

Inflation has pushed prices to their highest in 40 years across the country, driven by problems including supply chain issues, driver shortages and soaring energy costs. Many of these issues are being driven by the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and the war in Ukraine, which involves some of the world’s most important food and energy exporters. The U.S. is not alone in feeling the cost of sanctions or the war—Europe is heavily dependent on Russian energy exports—and the International Monetary Fund warned in April that global economic growth will be “severely set back” by the war in Russia.

Further Reading

AP-NORC poll: Economy grows as priority on Russia response (AP)

Biden’s Approval Rating Hits Record Low, Poll Finds (Forbes)