Recent developments reveal a significant shift in U.S. Republican attitudes toward support for Ukraine. Previously, some Republicans and Donald Trump’s followers opposed much of the aid, seeing it as excessive, with doubts and controversies around Ukraine’s place in U.S. policy.
This situation has changed, largely due to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s revised strategy. After Russia’s full-scale invasion in early 2022, most Trump supporters viewed Zelensky positively (67%), but by 2025, this fell to 19% amid Russian disinformation campaigns and Ukrainian political missteps, such as events seen by conservatives as election interference and a lack of communication with the right-wing base.
Recently, Zelensky has pivoted to actively engage conservative media and religious communities. He granted interviews to Ben Shapiro, Bret Baier, and attended an American-style prayer breakfast in Kyiv. As a result, conservative voter support for military aid to Ukraine has significantly risen, with Zelensky’s approval among these voters more than doubling in recent months.
The key has been focusing on values and interests important to conservatives: containing Russia, strengthening U.S. security, supporting Christianity, and highlighting economic benefits for the U.S. Furthermore, Zelensky has learned to avoid public disputes with Trump and to present Ukraine’s case persuasively, thus positively influencing Republican opinion.
Surveys show that 78% of Republicans with a positive view of Zelensky also support aid to Ukraine. Zelensky continues outreach to religious and conservative communities, emphasizing shared values and the importance of unity against Russian aggression. Changes in Ukrainian media and political strategy have contributed to growing support among U.S. Republicans.
