Zelenskyy urges Congress to increase U.S. aid for Ukraine's defense

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told German broadcaster ZDF on Wednesday that the Democratic sweep of the U.S. mid‑term elections gives Kyiv hope for a fresh boost of American military and financial aid, after voters handed both the Senate and the House to the Democratic Party and dealt a historic defeat to President Donald Trump’s Republicans.

The optimism comes amid a fraught relationship with the United States. In February 2025, Trump rebuked Zelenskyy as “ungrateful” for Washington’s support, and in recent weeks the president has taken steps that appear to favor Russia, including a deal to import Russian diesel and a waiver of sanctions that Congress had passed to fund Ukraine’s defence. Kyiv has also complained that Washington has delayed shipments of interceptor missiles. The Democratic win, Zelenskyy said, could restore a “balance of power” and revive the “connection between the United States and Europe,” making it easier for Congress to approve stronger assistance.

European leaders echoed the sentiment that a Democratic Congress could sharpen pressure on Moscow. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she hoped the new U.S. legislature would “continue supporting Ukraine and also putting more pressure on Russia,” stressing that Europe and the United States are “much stronger together.” In Germany, foreign minister Johann Wadephul called the clear Democratic victory a “new opportunity” for a fresh initiative to end wars in Ukraine and elsewhere, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz remained skeptical that Trump would change course even with a Democratic Congress.

If Congress moves quickly to approve additional aid, analysts say it could force Moscow to reconsider its strategy in the war that has become Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War II. Zelenskyy warned that strong financial or military support from the United States would have a “positive…impact on Putin.” The coming weeks will test whether the Democratic majority can translate electoral promises into concrete assistance for Kyiv, and whether that aid can shift the balance on the battlefield and in diplomatic negotiations.