Congressional Republicans need to better explain their position on Ukraine

If recent polls are to be trusted, Republican support for Ukraine has declined dramatically as the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion approaches. Even though a majority of Americans have consistently supported continued assistance to Ukraine, one survey last month found that the majority of Republicans in favor of military aid has shrunk from 80% in March of last year to 55% in December.

Republicans in Congress, however, continue to stand firmly for Ukraine. The latest aid package passed the Senate 88-11 and the House 368-57. It seems like everyone, including Republicans, on Capitol Hill understands that supporting Ukraine is a strategic imperative for the United States. The problem is they are doing a poor job of explaining why that is to the public.

For years now, a disconnect has been growing between Washington and the rest of America on foreign policy. Political and military leaders in the capital know that American leadership is key to preserving the world order, yet the people that world order is meant to serve increasingly question its value and the competence of those tasked with maintaining it.

But that does not mean Americans oppose every hawkish policy or that they want to see the United States withdraw from the global stage. President Joe Biden’s approval rating , for instance, first began to seriously decline around August 2021, the month of his foolish, ill-timed, and deadly surrender in Afghanistan. Voters do not want a foreign policy of retreat or national dishonor. They want a strong America acting to defend our values and interests. They just question whether Washington can deliver that strength right now.

Read more in The Washington Examiner.