Zelenskyy hopes US midterm results bring more support for Ukraine
Ukraine’s president said Democratic gains in Congress could help Kyiv, while European officials also urged continued US support and pressure on Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a November 4 interview with Germany’s ZDF television that he hoped Democratic gains in the US midterm elections would bring Ukraine more support, according to Reuters. He said Democrats taking control of both chambers of Congress next year could benefit Kyiv; his remarks expressed an expectation, not a new US aid decision.
What Zelenskyy said about US support
“I am also grateful to the Republicans, but the Democrats speak very clearly about supporting Ukraine and providing assistance to Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said in comments ZDF provided in German before the interview was broadcast, Reuters reported. He also pointed to Democrats’ stated interest in renewing ties between the United States and Europe, saying he hoped a new balance of power would bring Ukraine more support.
Zelenskyy argued that stronger US financial or military assistance could affect Russian President Vladimir Putin. That was his assessment of what such support might do; Reuters reported no resulting change in aid. The comments come amid efforts by Zelenskyy to repair a strained relationship with US President Donald Trump after their Oval Office meeting in February 2025, where the Ukrainian president was accused of being ungrateful for US assistance.
European officials also called for support
The Guardian reported that EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas hoped the new Congress would keep supporting Ukraine and put more pressure on Russia. German foreign minister Johann Wadephul said the election results could mean continuity in Germany’s dealings with the Trump administration and a change in ties with US Democrats, while expressing hope for a breakthrough on Ukraine. Their remarks show the election’s implications were being discussed by European officials as well as Zelenskyy.
Planned Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi
Reuters also reported that US-led trilateral talks involving Ukraine and Russia were due to resume the following week after a gap of several months. US envoy Steve Witkoff said on November 2 that delegations were expected to meet in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11 to discuss ending the war, post-war security arrangements and de-escalation. Those meetings were planned at the time of the report.
In separate ZDF comments, Zelenskyy discussed Ukraine’s access to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite service. He thanked the company for providing connectivity early in the war but criticized Elon Musk’s position on the conflict. Reuters reported that Zelenskyy had said the previous week that Starlink and its military grid version, Starshield, had returned to operation at levels before restrictions were introduced; Trump denied involvement in the service slowdown.
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Sources and context
- Zelenskyy hopes US election outcome will generate more help for UkraineReuters, republished by The Korea Herald
- Zelenskyy says 40 now confirmed dead after ‘insane’ Russian attack on school – as it happenedThe Guardian
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.