Poll: Large majority backs stronger Russia sanctions

More than two-thirds of Americans support stronger U.S. sanctions on Russia, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll released Tuesday.

According to that survey, 68 percent of respondents said that they would back tougher sanctions. That position largely spans the partisan divide. Seventy-four percent of Democrats and 68 percent of Republicans and independents voiced support for such penalties.

The poll results came a day after President Trump reversed on a plan to sanction Russian companies associated with the Syrian government’s alleged chemical weapons program. 

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On Friday, Trump authorized military strikes in concert with France and the U.K. on targets in Syria associated with the country’s chemical weapons arsenal. Those strikes were swiftly condemned by Moscow as a flagrant violation of international law.

Despite the broad support for tougher sanctions against Moscow, the Washington Post/ABC News poll also found that more than half of U.S. adults – 52 percent – believe that Trump should invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to the White House in an effort to warm relations between Washington and Moscow.

Another 42 percent said that Trump should not hold such a meeting with Putin, so as not to grant the Russian leader legitimacy. 

Nearly half of respondents — 49 percent — said that Trump has done too little to criticize Russia. By comparison, 32 percent said that he’s handled the situation properly, while just 4 percent believe that the president has criticized Russia too much.

The Washington Post/ABC News poll found a large partisan divide in perceptions of Trump’s treatment of Russia.

An overwhelming majority of Democrats – 70 percent – said that Trump has not been harsh enough in his criticism of Moscow. Seventy-one percent of Republicans, on the other hand, believe that Trump has handled the situation “about right”.

The Washington Post/ABC News poll was conducted April 8-11, and surveyed 1,002 U.S. adults. Its margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.