Two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, neither side has managed to achieve a decisive breakthrough and there is no end to the conflict in sight. Ongoing material international support for Ukraine, by no means assured, will be instrumental in Kyiv’s ability to continue to defend itself against Russian forces.

The United States, followed by Europe, is the largest provider of military and non-military aid to Ukraine. In late April 2024 (following conclusion of fieldwork for this Poll), after a months-long political impasse, the US Congress passed a bill authorising almost US$61 billion in assistance for Ukraine. Shortly after, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles announced a AU$100 million package of military assistance.

Australian public support for assisting Ukraine remains high. The vast majority of Australians (86%) continue to support ‘keeping strict sanctions on Russia’, steady from 2023. Eight in ten (80%) support ‘admitting Ukrainian refugees into Australia’, down four points from last year. Three-quarters (74%) support ‘providing military aid to Ukraine’, steady on last year.

Whereas the level of ‘strong support’ for each of these measures waned significantly between 2022 and 2023, over the past year, it has held steady for sanctions and military aid, and dropped a further six points for admitting refugees.

In answer to a new question in 2024, three-quarters of Australians (76%) support re-opening Australia’s embassy in Kyiv, which withdrew from Ukraine after Russia’s invasion in 2022 and remains closed due to ongoing security concerns. The majority of other Western embassies that withdrew in 2022 have since returned to Kyiv. At time of writing, Australia’s Ambassador to Ukraine continues to operate from Warsaw.

Australia’s response to the war in Ukraine