The war must continue: Democrats discuss a new $15 billion military aid package for Kyiv

After winning the midterm elections on November 3, the Democrats gained control of both chambers of Congress and are now discussing allocating about $15 billion in new military aid to Ukraine.

This was reported by the Financial Times, citing a staff member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Vladimir Zelensky expects more substantial US support after the change in control of Congress. According to him, the election results could give Kyiv’s supporters in Washington more authority on budget matters and in the sphere of parliamentary oversight. At the same time, analysts in Washington and Moscow note that Donald Trump’s control over foreign policy still limits Congress’s possibilities.

“We have bipartisan support,” Zelensky said, commenting on the election results. According to him, he is “grateful to the Republicans, but the Democrats very clearly state their support for Ukraine and the provision of assistance to it,” Al Jazeera reports.

On November 5, Zelensky said that Ukraine had not received $16 billion in American aid promised under previous agreements and that Kyiv must pursue these funds, NV reports.

“I believe that our chances of receiving additional assistance from the United States may now increase,” he said, in particular pointing to the possibility of accelerating deliveries of missiles for Patriot systems, the Associated Press reported.

According to NV, the Democrats are also seeking support for Ukraine’s energy sector before the new Congress begins work in January. Lawmakers may include provisions on sanctions, deliveries of interceptors and control over Starlink in the annual defense spending law. However, overcoming a veto will require the support of two-thirds of the votes in both chambers, and therefore Republican votes as well, the publication notes. According to Al Jazeera, the Democrats also stated that they intend to investigate Trump’s ties to Russia as soon as they gain control of Congress on January 3.

In the elections, Kyiv also lost a number of allies. According to Al Jazeera, Pennsylvania Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, lost his seat.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he hopes for Trump’s continued pursuit of peace.

“Certain groundwork already exists, and another round of trilateral talks will take place very soon,” he said, as reported by AP.

Peskov was referring to the talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States scheduled for November 10–11 in Abu Dhabi. He called the question of whether the new Congress will be able to challenge Trump an “internal matter.”

Russian officials were divided on what such an election result means. Former President Dmitry Medvedev suggested that Trump would ease pressure on Kyiv because “he does not need an extra confrontation with the Democrats,” AP reports. Senator Konstantin Kosachev argued the opposite.

“They will not find a more pliable and constrained Trump,” he said. “Rather, they will face an even more resolute one.”

Jörn Fleck of the Atlantic Council said the Democrats “will find it difficult to establish meaningful limits on Trump’s foreign policy,” the Associated Press reports. Kyiv analyst Ihar Tyshkevich warned that Trump could push Ukraine toward a rapid peace agreement before the new Congress begins work.

“That is why the next two months will be quite difficult for Ukraine,” he told Al Jazeera.