Are Americans worried about Russia using nuclear weapons? What a new poll found

Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald on Jun 12, 2025

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As the war in Ukraine rages on, there is widespread concern among Americans that Russia could resort to using nuclear weapons, according to the latest Quinnipiac University poll.

The survey — which sampled 1,265 registered voters June 5-9 — also found that Americans are pessimistic about the likelihood that a ceasefire will be achieved soon.

Further, most respondents said they disapprove of President Donald Trump’s handling of the conflict, making it the issue the president performed the most poorly on.

“As the Russia-Ukraine war grinds through its third year, Americans make it clear they have little appetite for the way the Trump administration is handling the situation,” polling analyst Tim Malloy said in a news release about the poll.

Here is a breakdown of the findings.

Trump approval on the war

A majority of voters, 57%, said they disapprove of the way Trump has handled the war thus far, while 34% said they approve. Ten percent said they weren’t sure.

These figures have largely held steady over time. In a March Quinnipiac poll, 55% said they disapproved of the president’s stance on the conflict, and 38% said they approved.

Opinions on the issue tracked closely with partisan affiliation. Most Republicans, 70%, said they favor the president’s approach, while 94% of Democrats and 57% of independents oppose it.

Trump’s 34% approval rating on the Ukraine war also stands out as the lowest rating among seven issues respondents were asked about, including the Israel-Hamas war, the economy and immigration.

On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly said he could end the European war in 24 hours, but now — four months into his term — the conflict has only escalated. As of early June, there have been an estimated over 1.3 million combined casualties, according to a June study from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a think tank.

Though lacking success, Trump has made continual efforts to negotiate a ceasefire, including by organizing diplomatic summits and speaking directly with both Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The poll — which has a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points — also asked respondents about the likelihood that a lasting cease-fire will be achieved soon.

Less than one-third, 27%, said they are confident that a permanent ceasefire will be reached in the near future. Meanwhile, 69% said they are not confident.

While 45% of Republicans expressed optimism, just 14% of Democrats and 24% of independents shared this sentiment.

On the other hand, a majority of Americans are worried about the chances of nuclear escalation — a feeling that nuclear experts share, according to previous reporting from McClatchy News.

About two-thirds of voters, 64%, said they are concerned about the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons, while 35% said they are not concerned.

Here, there was agreement across the political spectrum, with 75% of Democrats, 61% of independents and 53% of Republicans expressing concern.

Further, most respondents said the U.S. military should put boots on the ground if Russia expands the war into a NATO country.

Sixty-two percent said “American troops should get involved” if Russia attacks a NATO nation. Meanwhile, 29% disagreed.

Here, again, there was consensus among partisans, with 70% of Democrats, 64% of independents and 54% of Republicans saying America should get involved in this scenario.

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