Majority of Americans say its a bad idea to send troops to fight in Ukraine: poll

A plurality of Americans favor aiding Ukraine in some way, but a majority are opposed to sending U.S. troops into the country to fight amid threats of a Russian invasion, according to a new poll released Friday. 

The Russian military has amassed over 100,000 troops at its border with Ukraine, prompting concern from the international community that Russia is poised to invade the former Soviet state like it did in 2014, when it annexed Crimea. 

The poll, conducted by YouGov, found that 42 percent of Americans surveyed said that the U.S. should send financial aid to Ukraine, compared to 24 percent who said it was a bad idea and 34 percent who said that they were unsure. 

Fifty-five percent of Americans said that they were against sending U.S. troops in to fight Russian soldiers in the event of an incursion in Ukraine. Only 13 percent of those surveyed thought it was a good idea. 

Thirty-four percent of Americans disapprove of U.S. troops going to Ukraine to assist but not fight the Russians if an invasion would occur. Thirty-three percent support the idea and 33 percent are unsure of their position. 

The Biden administration has previously stated that the U.S. would support Ukraine support but, it has indicated the U.S. would not send troops to the country.

On Saturday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered 160 American troops out of Ukraine as officials say an invasion could happen at occur any day.  

Americans look more favorably at measures that don’t involve putting our troops directly in Ukraine, such as imposing sanctions on Russia, sending troops into NATO countries and sending weapons to Ukraine, according to the poll. 

Fifty percent of Americans surveyed said they thought imposing sanctions on Russia was a good idea. Just 20 percent of those surveyed said they oppose the idea. 

President Biden has said that if Russia invades Ukraine, the country will experience crushing economic sanctions.  

Forty percent of Americans approve of sending troops in allied countries, while 23 percent of participants oppose such actions.  

The poll was conducted among 1,500 U.S. adults from Feb. 5 to Feb. 8. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.