As the conflict in Ukraine intensifies, tensions between America and Russia are reaching Cold War levels of suspicion and brinksmanship. The Pentagon has released video footage of a Russian Su-27 fighter jet colliding with a US drone and forcing it to ditch in the sea, puncturing Moscow’s denials that the aircraft was not targeting the drone.

The United States military’s global force and technological advantage would clobber the Russian military in any toe-to-toe conventional fight, experts agree. But most believe any fight between the two superpowers will be far more complex than a traditional battle of a few armed forces against a single enemy. It could draw in allied troops from countries that border four NATO member nations and share the Black Sea littoral with two others. And if the conflict escalates to a nuclear exchange, it could trigger far more devastating consequences.

The American public is divided on how to deal with these developments. Americans have generally favorable views of NATO, particularly among older Americans, Democrats and those who think it is important that the U.S. work with other nations to advance its interests. But support for Ukraine and Russia is more mixed. Across party lines, majorities have very unfavorable opinions of Putin and say that Russia is an enemy. A similar pattern is true of Xi Jinping: 57% of Republicans have no confidence at all in the Chinese leader, and a majority of independents also have very unfavorable opinions.