USAupdated 1h ago2 min read
Archive photo · 23 September 2020Democrats Win Control of Congress, Zelenskyy Seeks More US Aid for Ukraine
“We no longer depend on American money and weaponry.”
“Zelensky said at least $16 billion in assistance was withheld by the U.S. and needs to be disbursed”
Photo: Coffeeandcrumbs, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped for layout
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Democrats win control of both houses enabling new Ukraine aid efforts Zelensky urges increased U.S. assistance amid Russian attacks, seeks security package
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Democrats, Ukraine, and Aid
Democrats’ midterm congressional victories in the United States are set to give the Democratic Party control of both houses in the new Congress and provide a check on President Donald Trump, according to Al Jazeera’s account of Kyiv’s reaction. Kyrylo, a wounded drone technician from eastern Ukraine, said, “We already learned how not to depend on America,” adding that “We no longer depend on American money and weaponry,” while he recovered in a Kyiv hospital after a Russian glide bomb hit his bunker.
Al Jazeera reported that from October 2025 to March Kyiv received a mere $8.2bn in military aid as part of “legacy pipelines” dating back to US President Joe Biden’s administration, and it said the deals would have cost another $13bn when the supplies are over. Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Al Jazeera, “We have bipartisan support,” and he said he was “thankful to the Republicans, but Democrats very clearly state their support of Ukraine and providing aid to it.”
Kremlin’s Hope, Abu Dhabi Talks
The Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the United States election result would not change Moscow’s expectations for Trump’s peace efforts, and he expressed hope that “There is already preparatory work underway, and another round of trilateral negotiations is expected very soon.” Peskov said the next round of talks was expected to involve Russian, Ukrainian, and American representatives in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and he added that he hoped the “successful humanitarian peace-building efforts” of Melania Trump would continue.
Al Jazeera reported that Democrats pledged to scrutinise Trump’s ties to Russia and conduct sweeping investigations focused on alleged corruption within the Trump family, and it said the investigations would include ties to Russian politicians, intelligence and oligarchs. The Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov also told Diari ARA that “President Trump remains in power and we sincerely hope he persists in pursuing pacifying efforts,” framing the midterm outcome as not changing anything for Moscow.
What Congress Could Change
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview posted on the social platform X that “at the very least, Ukraine must fight for these funds,” reacting to Democrats’ midterm victories and arguing that at least $16 billion in assistance was withheld by the U.S. The Hill reported that Zelensky said he was working to accelerate deliveries of missiles for Patriot air defense systems, other air-defense missiles and assistance for F-16 fighter jets, while he also described conversations with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner ahead of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi.
UNITED24 Media said US Democrats were preparing a new security assistance package for Ukraine worth up to $15 billion, and it reported that lawmakers were considering including additional assistance in the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) before the current congressional term ends. Al Jazeera warned that before the new Congress takes office, Trump is likely to pressure Ukraine to accept a fast-tracked peace deal with Russia, and it quoted Kyiv-based analyst Igar Tyshkevych saying, “That’s why the next two months will”.