Majority Of Americans Support Increasing Sanctions On Russia

Majority Of Americans Support Increasing Sanctions On Russia
KONSTANTINOVKA, UKRAINE - APRIL 28: A child looks at pro-Russian militants guarding the front of the city council building on April 28, 2014 in Konstantinovka, Ukraine. Militants stormed and took control of the building and the city's police station earlly this morning. Yesterday a group of about 500 activists took control of the TRK Donbass television station in nearby Donetsk. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
KONSTANTINOVKA, UKRAINE - APRIL 28: A child looks at pro-Russian militants guarding the front of the city council building on April 28, 2014 in Konstantinovka, Ukraine. Militants stormed and took control of the building and the city's police station earlly this morning. Yesterday a group of about 500 activists took control of the TRK Donbass television station in nearby Donetsk. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Most Americans support increasing sanctions on Russian leaders, though an even larger majority opposes providing military supplies to the Ukrainian government, according to a Pew Research Center/USA Today poll released Monday.

Americans support increasing economic and diplomatic sanctions on Russia by a 53 percent to 36 percent margin, the poll found, with majorities in both parties approving. However, Americans oppose the prospect of sending arms and military supplies to the Ukrainian government by an even larger margin, 62 percent to 30 percent. Opposition to military support spans most demographics, including age, gender, income and partisan affiliation.

Opinions were divided, however, on President Barack Obama's handling of the situation between Russia and Ukraine, with 6 percent saying he was too tough, 35 percent that he wasn't tough enough, and 40 percent that he was being about right. Americans split along partisan lines: 56 percent of Democrats said Obama was "about right," while 55 percent of Republicans thought he wasn't tough enough.

The poll's findings come as the United States imposed a new round of sanctions on more than two dozen Russian officials and companies on Monday. The measures imposed included asset freezes and visa bans. Russian President Vladimir Putin was not targeted in the sanctions.

The Pew/USA Today telephone survey was conducted from April 23-27 among 1,501 adults.

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