Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said he hopes the Democrats’ gains in the US midterm elections will bring more help for Ukraine in its four-and-a-half-year war with Russia.
Speaking to Germany’s ZDF television on Wednesday, Zelenskiy said he hoped the changes caused by Democrats taking control of both chambers of Congress next year would work 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,” he said in comments released by ZDF ahead of the interview’s broadcast. “They speak about renewing the connection between the United States and Europe… Therefore, there is hope that a balance of power will emerge and that we will receive more support.”
Zelenskiy argued that stronger backing from Washington could itself influence Moscow. “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,” he said.
The remarks come after a difficult stretch in Kyiv’s relationship with Washington. Zelenskiy has worked to smooth over an uneven relationship with President Donald Trump since an Oval Office meeting in February 2025 in which he was accused of being ungrateful for American assistance. In recent weeks, Trump has made several moves seen as favourable to Russia, including a deal to import Russian diesel and an easing of sanctions.
At the same time, diplomacy is set to resume. US-led trilateral talks with Ukraine and Russia are due to restart next week after a gap of several months, with presidential envoy Steve Witkoff saying the United States will bring delegations from both countries together in Abu Dhabi on 10-11 November to discuss ending the war, post-war security agreements and de-escalation.
Zelenskiy also used the interview to address access to the Starlink satellite system run by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which Ukrainian forces use for attack and air-defence drone missions. “We are grateful to SpaceX for providing us with connectivity. That was very helpful at the beginning of the war,” he said. “But we must be very clear about this: we certainly do not like his position on this war.”
He said last week that Starlink and its military version, Starshield, had resumed operating at levels seen before limitations were introduced. Trump has denied being involved in the decision behind the service slowdown.
Note that the interview comments were released by ZDF ahead of the full broadcast, so further detail may follow when it airs in full.
Sources: Reuters, “Zelenskiy hopes US election outcome will generate more help for Ukraine”, 4 November 2026 — https://www.reuters.com/world/zelenskiy-hopes-us-election-outcome-will-generate-more-help-ukraine-2026-11-04/
