Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in an interview on Wednesday, said he hoped gains by Democrats in the US midterm elections would generate more help for Ukraine in its 4-1/2-year-long war with Russia.
US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff said on Monday that the United States would bring together delegations from Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11 to discuss ending the war against Ukraine, post-war security agreements and de-escalation.
Zelenskiy told Germany’s ZDF television he hoped the changes caused by Democrats taking control of both chambers of Congress next year would be to Kyiv’s advantage. “I am also grateful to the Republicans, but the Democrats speak very clearly about supporting Ukraine and providing assistance to Ukraine,” Zelenskiy said in comments provided in German by ZDF before the interview was broadcast. Zelenskiy said more US aid could have an effect on Russian President Vladimir Putin. “If Congress now speaks of strong financial support or military assistance, as Europe is doing and demonstrating today, then that will be something positive that will have an impact on Putin,” ZDF quoted him as saying. Zelenskiy has made considerable efforts to smooth over an uneven relationship with US President Donald Trump, particularly after an Oval Office meeting in February 2025, when the Ukrainian president was accused of being “ungrateful” for US assistance.
