Political strategists Douglas E. Schoen and Thomas Weihe argue in a commentary published by The Hill that Western support for Ukraine is weakening because citizens in the United States and Europe no longer feel sufficiently free themselves, reducing their motivation to defend freedom abroad.
The authors acknowledge that while outright support for Ukraine has not collapsed, public conviction behind it has thinned as voters question whether the fight against Russia matters to them personally. Schoen, who served as an adviser to President Clinton, and Weihe, a historian at Humboldt University Berlin, contend this trend reflects a broader erosion in how Western citizens perceive their own freedoms.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressives have long emphasized that support for Ukraine must come with scrutiny of military spending and prioritization of domestic needs. Some on the left echo concerns about whether indefinite foreign aid serves American workers or merely enriches defense contractors.
Additionally, critics note that Russian propaganda has targeted progressive audiences by reviving Soviet-era claims that Western capitalism represents a form of economic oppression rather than genuine freedom. These arguments suggest that skepticism toward Ukraine funding reflects coherent leftist principles about inequality and corporate power, not indifference to liberty.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservatives have raised their own concerns about Western resolve on Ukraine. Some argue that American citizens face mounting restrictions on free speech through perceived political correctness and cancel culture, undermining the nation's credibility as a champion of liberty abroad.
Meanwhile, Russian messaging aimed at the right has framed Moscow as an anti-woke bastion standing against progressive social values spreading from the West. This creates complicated politics for Republicans who want to support Ukraine but also appeal to voters skeptical of foreign intervention or hostile to progressive cultural movements.
What the Numbers Show
The Allensbach Institute found that the share of German citizens who feel "free" to express political opinions fell from 83 percent in 1971 to just 45 percent today. Among supporters of the Alternative for Germany party, only 11 percent reported feeling free to express their views publicly.
Gallup data shows satisfaction with personal freedoms declined across G7 nations over the past two decades: the United States dropped 16 points, France fell 15 points, the United Kingdom decreased 13 points and Canada slipped 10 points. These figures represent the steepest declines among developed democracies tracked by the polling organization.
The Bottom Line
The commentary arrives as Congress continues debating Ukraine aid packages with bipartisan support but growing divisions over funding levels and conditions. Schoen and Weihe urge Republicans and Democrats to "return to the core values of freedom and democracy" in order to unify Western backing for Kyiv against Russian aggression.
Whether public perceptions of declining freedom will translate into further policy shifts remains uncertain. Congressional votes on Ukraine assistance have repeatedly passed with cross-party majorities, though margins have narrowed as the conflict extends into its fifth year.