Democrats prepare new aid package for Ukraine: Trump’s veto will be the main obstacle

Democrats, who won control of both chambers of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections, are preparing to push for new military and financial aid for Ukraine. This threatens a clash with President Donald Trump, who has largely halted direct American aid to Kyiv.

This is reported by Reuters.

According to Democratic aides, aid to Kyiv is one of the priorities. After the new Congress begins work in January, it will be the Democrats who decide which bills to bring to a vote and when.

The main obstacle is Trump’s veto. To override it, a two-thirds majority is needed in both chambers. Reuters notes that Ukraine was previously strongly supported by Democrats and many Republicans, so a new aid package could well garner the required number of votes. The final size of the Democratic majority has not yet been determined.

Democrats are also expected to address Trump’s easing of pressure on Moscow. A few weeks after signing laws on sanctions against Russian diesel fuel and the Russian energy sector, Trump repealed or suspended them, which drew discontent from many lawmakers, including Republicans.

New York Congressman Gregory Meeks, who is likely to chair the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced a bipartisan bill intended to block Trump’s plan to return Russian diesel fuel to the global market, Reuters reports.

An increase in aid is unlikely to come quickly. It also will not solve Ukraine’s most acute problem — the shortage of interceptor missiles for American Patriot systems, which are needed to protect cities and energy infrastructure in winter, Reuters notes in a separate analytical piece. It also says that the midterm elections are unlikely to change Washington’s position in trilateral peace talks with Russia.

Kyiv welcomed the election results.

“We expect new dynamics… We expect new steps in support of Ukraine,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said at a press conference in Bucharest on Thursday, November 5, Reuters reports.

The war with Iran, which Trump launched together with Israel on February 28 without congressional approval, is expected to become another serious subject of foreign policy struggle. A resolution demanding an end to hostilities if Trump does not obtain authorization passed both chambers with the support of a number of Republicans, but the administration ignored it. Now Democrats can cut defense spending, block confirmation of nominees, or hold public hearings to pressure the White House, Reuters reports.

Analysts expect that the issues of Ukraine and Iran will become linked in budget negotiations. Political analyst Rafael Bernal told France 24 that aid to Ukraine could become a bargaining chip in these negotiations. He also noted that Trump has promised to veto any Democratic initiative, regardless of the topic. University of Colorado professor Ernesto Sagás disagreed with the gloomier assessment: he called the election outcome “very good news for Ukraine” and said it is “quite likely” that Democrats and many Republicans will vote for increased aid, France 24 reports.