The Kremlin says it hopes U.S. President Donald Trump will continue pursuing a negotiated settlement to Russia’s war in Ukraine despite Republican losses in the U.S. midterm elections and the prospect of greater congressional support for Kyiv.

According to Associated Press reporting published by Global News, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said preparations were underway for another round of talks involving Russian, Ukrainian and U.S. representatives in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“There is groundwork already in place, and another round of trilateral negotiations is set to take place very soon,” Peskov said.

Asked whether a Democratic-controlled Congress could challenge Trump’s approach to Russia and Ukraine, Peskov called the election outcome an “internal matter” for the United States.

The response comes as Ukrainian officials express cautious optimism that the Democratic victories could strengthen U.S. assistance. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the outcome might help accelerate deliveries of Patriot interceptors, which Ukraine needs to defend against Russian ballistic missiles.

“I believe our chances of getting additional assistance from the United States may now grow,” Zelenskyy said.

The AP report said the Trump administration approved a proposed $2.1-billion sale of Patriot interceptors for Ukraine on Oct. 30, after Kyiv accused the Pentagon of delaying delivery. Approval of the proposed sale does not establish when the weapons will arrive.

Russian officials offered differing assessments of the election’s consequences. Former president Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, predicted Trump would be less inclined to pressure Ukraine because he would want to avoid another confrontation with Democrats.

Konstantin Kosachev, a deputy speaker of Russia’s upper house of parliament, instead argued that Trump’s foreign-policy powers would allow him to maintain his course despite congressional opposition.

Jorn Fleck, senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center, cautioned that even strong Democratic majorities would struggle to impose meaningful limits on Trump’s foreign policy. The election therefore raises the possibility of more pressure over Ukraine aid and Russia sanctions, but does not guarantee a change in Washington’s approach.

Sources