Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has expressed optimism that the Democratic Party’s victory in the United States midterm elections could strengthen Washington’s support for Kyiv and create fresh opportunities to end the war with Russia.
Ukraine and its European allies have been concerned about Washington’s growing engagement with Moscow since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last year.
Relations between Trump and Zelensky have remained strained, with tensions escalating in recent weeks after the US president criticised Kyiv and reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to ease sanctions in exchange for the release of Russian diesel.
Speaking in an interview with German broadcaster ZDF, aired late Wednesday, Zelensky said the Democrats’ electoral gains could create a balance of political power in Washington and improve Ukraine’s chances of receiving additional assistance.
“There is hope now that there is this balance of power, and that we will be supported more,” he said.
The Ukrainian leader suggested that stronger financial and military commitments from the US Congress could influence Putin’s calculations about continuing the war.
He argued that an increase in American assistance would make Moscow reconsider the prospects of prolonging the conflict and potentially encourage it to return to negotiations.
“And Putin will be thinking about whether it makes sense to keep fighting if the support will only grow. Logically, this will lead us to possible negotiations and a possible peace,” Zelensky said.
Meanwhile, representatives of Russia and Ukraine are expected to resume US-mediated negotiations next week in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The diplomatic engagement had been suspended since the outbreak of the Middle East war in February.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, have been leading the American-led negotiations, although their approach to Russia has attracted criticism.
Zelensky links Democrats’ victory to possible end of Russia-Ukraine war