Americans Divided on Future US Role in Post-War Ukraine

While most support providing medevac services to injured peacekeepers, the public is divided over backing a peacekeeping force militarily.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted a meeting of Western leaders on March 15 to develop plans for a “coalition of the willing” that will implement a potential peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. Britain, France and Australia have expressed willingness to provide troops to help enforce a ceasefire (as have Denmark and Sweden), but caution that peace could only be guaranteed with a US military “backstop.”

A just completed Chicago Council on Global Affairs-Ipsos poll, fielded March 14–16, 2025, shows that a majority of Americans believe the United States and Europe should equally share responsibility for assisting Ukraine in its defense. However, there is partisan division on whether the United States should participate in the peacekeeping force and whether it should use air power to assist peacekeepers if they come under attack.

Key Findings

• Six in 10 Americans (58%) believe the United States and European countries are equally responsible for helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia, but this share has declined by 10 percentage points since 2023.
• Opinion is divided on whether the United States should launch airstrikes against Russia if it were to attack peacekeeping forces in Ukraine (48% support, 46% oppose)) or send American troops to be part of a peacekeeping force (46% support, 48% oppose).
• A large majority (80%) supports the United States providing medical evacuation services for injured peacekeepers.
• Three-quarters of Americans (76%) are confident Ukraine would respect a peace agreement, but few say the same of Russia (20%).

United States and Europe Seen as Equally Responsible for Defending Ukraine

The majority of Americans believe both the United States and European countries are equally responsible for helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia (58%). However, the share of those believing Americans and Europeans are equally responsible for Ukraine’s defense has declined by eight percentage points since 2023 and across all partisan groups (see appendix table 1).

A third of Americans think the burden of responsibility for defending Ukraine against Russia should fall solely on the shoulders of European countries (33%, up from 30%). While Republicans are most likely to hold this view (50%, up from 46%), four in 10 still think the United States and Europe should share the responsibility (42%, down from 52%).

Seven in 10 Democrats (71%, down from 82%) and six in 10 Independents (58%, down from 66%) continue to think the United States and Europe are equally responsible. Few Americans believe the United States has sole responsibility for helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia (6%, up from 3%).

Americans Divide on Using US Troops to Enforce Peace in Ukraine

If European ground forces are sent to Ukraine to monitor and enforce a peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow, eight in 10 Americans (80%) and majorities across partisan stripes support the United States evacuating injured peacekeepers (91% Democrats, 78% Independents, 76% Republicans). However, they are divided when it comes to providing direct military support: Just under half of the public supports the United States launching airstrikes against Russian forces if Russia attacks peacekeepers (48%) or sending American troops to be part of a peacekeeping force (46%).

Among partisans, six in 10 Democrats support these measures to aid the peacekeeping process. But fewer than half of Independents and no more than four in 10 Republicans agree.

One reason for these divisions may be that Americans doubt a peace will hold. Few among any partisan group believe Russia would respect a peace agreement with Ukraine if one were reached (20% overall are confident). On the other hand, three-quarters overall and majorities across all partisans are confident that Ukraine would respect a peace deal (76% overall).

Although a large majority of Republicans express confidence Ukraine will respect a potential peace agreement (68%), nearly a third are also confident that Russia would do so (31%)—more than any other partisan group (10% Democrats, 19% Independents).