Ukraine and Russia in 2028
U.S. support for Ukraine in its war against Russia, NATO obligations, and the long-term U.S.-Russia relationship.
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 triggered the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II and prompted the largest U.S. military assistance package to a foreign country in decades. The war became a major political issue in the United States, particularly as the costs mounted and a ceasefire remained elusive.
Support for Ukraine became a flashpoint within the Republican Party, with a significant minority opposing continued aid and calling for negotiations that critics characterized as favorable to Russia. Democrats were more unified in favor of continued support.
Questions about NATO's future, U.S. security commitments to allies, and what kind of outcome in Ukraine serves American interests will all be live in 2028 - whether the war is still ongoing or has reached some form of settlement.
Why it matters in 2028
The war's status in 2028 - still ongoing, frozen, or concluded - will shape how this issue lands in the campaign. Either way, the U.S. policy debate over Ukraine crystallized a fundamental disagreement about American global obligations and the proper use of taxpayer resources abroad.
How each party frames ukraine and russia
A neutral summary of each party's general governing approach. Individual 2028 candidates will differ - no nominee has been chosen yet.
Democratic approach
Democrats broadly support continued aid to Ukraine as a matter of principle - opposing Russian aggression and defending a rules-based international order - and as a strategic investment in European security without direct U.S. military involvement. Many in the party frame aid to Ukraine as deterrence that prevents broader conflict and upholds NATO commitments. Democrats tend to be skeptical of settlement terms that reward Russian territorial gains.
Republican approach
Republicans are genuinely divided on Ukraine. A traditionalist wing supports continued aid as consistent with long-standing U.S. alliance commitments and the containment of Russia. A larger nationalist faction questions the open-ended nature of U.S. assistance, argues for a negotiated settlement even if imperfect, and emphasizes the cost of the commitment and other domestic priorities. This division has made Ukraine one of the sharpest intraparty fault lines in recent memory.
What voters ask about ukraine and russia
- Would candidates continue sending military and financial aid to Ukraine?
- Should the U.S. push Ukraine toward a negotiated settlement with Russia?
- What does the 2028 candidate see as the desired outcome of the war?
- How does Ukraine policy connect to NATO and U.S. commitments to allies?
- Is U.S. support for Ukraine in the American national interest?
Other 2028 issues
How 2028 candidates plan to manage economic growth, consumer prices, and the cost of living.
Border enforcement, legal immigration pathways, and the future of undocumented immigrants already in the U.S.
Federal and state abortion policy after the Supreme Court returned the issue to state legislatures in 2022.
Health insurance coverage, drug prices, and the long-running debate over the structure of the American health system.
Federal tax policy, including the expiring provisions of the 2017 tax law and disputes over who pays what.
Employment levels, minimum wage, union rights, and the future of work in an era of automation and AI.