Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has voiced hope that the Democrats' victory in the US congressional elections will bring greater American assistance for Ukraine and increase pressure on Vladimir Putin to end the war. He said the changes in Congress could also improve the prospects for negotiations and a possible peace agreement.
Speaking in an interview with German broadcaster ZDF, reported by European Pravda, Zelenskyy said he hoped Democratic control of both chambers of Congress next year would work in Kyiv's favour. President Donald Trump's Republican Party lost its majorities in both chambers in the US midterm elections, setting up the change in congressional control.
Zelenskyy acknowledged that Ukraine receives backing from both major American political parties and expressed gratitude to Republicans for their support. At the same time, he highlighted what he described as the Democrats' clear position on helping Ukraine. His remarks combined recognition of existing bipartisan support with an expectation that the election outcome could lead to more assistance.
The Ukrainian president also pointed to Democratic calls for closer relations between the United States and Europe. He said those connections had weakened somewhat in recent years and stressed their importance to Ukraine's ability to resist Putin. "Without these ties, without these relations, it is very difficult to stand up to Putin," Zelenskyy said.
On assistance, Zelenskyy said a congressional push for substantial financial backing or weapons deliveries could affect Putin's decisions. He pointed to Europe's support as an example of the kind of commitment that could have an impact. In his view, stronger American backing would be a positive development that could make the Russian ruler reconsider the value of continuing the war.
Zelenskyy linked that potential shift in Putin's calculations to the prospect of expanding support for Ukraine. He argued that growing assistance could prompt Putin to question whether continuing to fight made sense. He also expressed hope that stronger US backing would help bring negotiations closer and make an eventual peace agreement more attainable.
Following the Republicans' electoral losses, Trump said he would accept the results and indicated that he was ready to work with the Democratic majority in Congress.
