Most Americans doubt Trump’s ability to handle Russia-Ukraine war

Nearly 60% of respondents said they were either “not too confident” or “not at all confident” that Trump could make wise decisions regarding the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II.

The survey, conducted in early August, found that Democrats are significantly less trusting of the president’s resolve and competence than Republicans. However, confidence among Republicans has also dropped: in July 2024, 81% of Republicans trusted his decisions on the war in Ukraine, compared to just 73% now.

U.S. citizens remain divided over whether the United States has an obligation to help Ukraine defend itself, with Democrats far more likely to support this aid. Fewer than one-third now see the war as a serious threat to U.S. interests — a sharp drop from 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

At the same time, fewer Americans than in March believe Trump is too sympathetic to Russia. The shift in sentiment comes as Trump has recently taken a more publicly critical stance on the war.

Trump–Putin Alaska meeting

On Aug. 8, Donald Trump announced that he will meet Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Aug. 15, calling it “a significant milestone in U.S.–Russia relations.”

According to the White House schedule, the talks are set for 7 p.m. GMT (10 p.m. Kyiv time).

The U.S. president said he plans to discuss Russia’s war against Ukraine and his own settlement proposal, which involves a partial territorial swap: Kyiv will regain some land but, in return, would supposedly have to cede other areas.

On Aug. 9, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that Ukrainians will not give up a single piece of their land to the enemy, adding that the issue of territorial integrity is enshrined in Ukraine’s Constitution and cannot be violated.