If US was invaded, most Republicans and independents would stay and fight, most Democrats would flee: poll

According to a Quinnipiac University Poll, if Americans were facing the same circumstances as Ukrainians, 68 percent of Republicans and 57 percent of independents said they would stay and fight compared to only 40 percent of Democrats. 52 percent of Democrats said they would flee the country, compared to only 25 percent of Republicans.

Additionally, 38 percent of African-Americans surveyed say they would stay and fight versus 59 percent who said they would leave. Among Hispanics, 61 percent said they would stay and fight compared to 33 percent who would leave.

Quinnipiac University polling analyst Tim Malloy said: "When confronted with a terrible hypothetical that would put them in the shoes of the Ukrainians, Americans say they would stand and fight rather than seek safety in another country." According to the poll, the majority of Americans (55 percent) said they would stay and fight and only 38 percent of those surveyed said they would leave the country.

An official with the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, DC, told the Military Times on Thursday that the country has received more than 3,000 applications from people in the US who want to volunteer to fight.

Since Russia invaded almost two weeks ago, approximately 1.7 million refugees have fled Ukraine, according to a United Nation refugee agency.

According to the Quinnipiac poll, 66 percent of Republicans versus 91 percent of Democrats supported accepting Ukrainian refugees into the US.

71 percent overall and 66 percent of Republicans also said they are willing to pay more at the pump if Russian oil imports were banned from the US.

Democrats (82 – 12 percent), independents (70 – 22 percent), and Republicans (66 – 30 percent) supported banning Russian oil.

50 percent of those surveyed agreed that Putin's actions against Ukraine were comparable to Adolf Hitler's actions against Austria and Czechoslovakia before World War II and 60 percent of Americans believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is mentally unstable and willing to use nuclear weapons against NATO countries. 79 percent approved of a US military response if Putin attacks a NATO country, including 88 percent of Democrats and 82 percent of Republicans.

83 percent of Republicans and 91 percent of Democrats don't believe the Russian people have a say in what Putin and his government choose to do, while 74 percent believe the Russian people don't have a full understanding of what is happening in Ukraine.

42 percent approved of President Joe Biden's handling of the response to Russia's invasion with 45 percent disapproving, and for his overall job approval, Americans give Biden a negative 40 – 51 percent job approval rating.

56 percent also said actions Biden had taken were not tough enough, while 30 percent say they are about right, and 3 percent say they are too tough.

According to the poll, 49 percent of Americans said the attack on Ukraine has contributed to them feeling anxious, and when asked how long the war in Ukraine will last, only 19 percent believe the conflict will be over in weeks, 44 percent believe it will end in months, and 23 percent feel it will last years.