The Democrats’ victory in the US mid-term elections offers hope to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Ukraine and European countries, including Norway, have disapproved of the US’s approach to Russia and President Vladimir Putin since Donald Trump returned to the White House last year. They want a more aggressive stance from Washington.
At the same time, the relationship between Zelenskyy and the US President has steadily deteriorated, a trend that began in earnest at the White House meeting on 28 February 2025, when Zelenskyy was criticised by both Trump and Vice-President J.D. Vance.
Trump has also stated that Ukraine should replace its president, and in recent weeks tensions have also risen as a result of the diesel agreement between the US and Russia, as well as Trump’s critical remarks regarding Ukrainian attacks on Russian infrastructure linked to oil and gas production, such as refineries.
Zelenskyy now hopes that the Democrats can be his saviours.
“There is now hope that there is a balance of power, and that we will receive more support,” says Zelenskyy in an interview with the German broadcaster ZDF.
If Congress “starts talking about strong economic or military support”, this will have an impact on Putin, Zelenskyy believes.
– “And Putin will consider whether it makes sense to continue the war if that support only grows. Logically, this will lead us to possible negotiations and a possible peace,” he added. (NTB)
Talks between Russia and Ukraine, with the US acting as mediator, are due to take place in Abu Dhabi next week, having been on hold since the outbreak of war in the Middle East in February.
Zelenskyy met US Special Envoy Stevie Witkoff in Oslo on 20 October. The hosts were Jonas Gahr Støre and the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb.
The dynamic duo of Støre and Stubb followed this up by holding atelephone conversation with Vladimir Putin about a week later. The governments of Denmark and Sweden reacted with scepticism, but both Zelenskyy and those with diplomatic experience viewed the approach to the Kremlin positively, in the hope of bringing an end, if possible, to the bloody war that has now lasted for almost five years.
