Selenskyj hopes Democrats' midterm win brings more US aid to Ukraine

Democrats' win raises hopes for more aid

The Democrats won back majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate from Donald Trump's Republicans on Tuesday, 3 November. Selenskyj said the outcome could help Ukraine, a country attacked by Russia, and added that he was grateful to the Republicans as well. He argued that the Democrats speak far more clearly about support and help for Ukraine, and about renewing the connection between the United States and Europe. He said he hoped the new balance of power would bring Ukraine more support. Europe fears Trump could act more aggressively on the international stage, although how the new majority will shape US foreign policy remains unclear.

Interview with Böhmermann

The interview was recorded for ZDF and went online on Wednesday, 4 November, on the broadcaster's streaming portal and on YouTube. ZDF Magazin Royale will broadcast the conversation on Friday, 6 November, at 23:00. In it, Selenskyj talks about his path from comedian to president of a country at war. Böhmermann also asks about the influence of Elon Musk on US politics, the British singer James Blunt and skiing in Ischgl. Selenskyj said that if the US Congress talks about strong financial or weapons support, as Europe is doing now, that would be a positive development that would influence Wladimir Putin.

Trump's Russia policy and Musk's satellite services

Critics have long accused Trump of pursuing a Russia-friendly course in the war. In October he put sanctions against Russia that Congress had passed on hold by decree, which drew criticism from Republicans as well. Selenskyj also addressed the alleged temporary throttling of Starlink and Starshield, the satellite communication services of US tech billionaire Elon Musk. He said Ukraine was grateful to SpaceX for a connection that had been very helpful at the start of the war, but that the country had to be clear that it does not like Musk's stance on the war. Musk has long called for an immediate end to the fighting, and in 2025 he wrote that he was tired of years of stalemate and that Ukraine would lose in the end. He has also called for Selenskyj to step down.

Talks with Russia under US mediation

Selenskyj said he had spoken with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and with Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, about the upcoming negotiations with Russia in Abu Dhabi. According to Selenskyj, Ukraine is ready for the necessary steps toward a quick end to the war and has handed its proposals to the US side. For the period after a possible end to the fighting, he said Ukraine needs security guarantees as solid as reinforced concrete. The talks under US mediation are scheduled for 10 and 11 November and resume negotiations that were interrupted in February. Expectations of a breakthrough are low.

What comes next

The full interview has been online since Wednesday, 4 November, and the television broadcast follows on Friday, 6 November, at 23:00. Ukraine and Russia are due to hold their US-mediated talks on 10 and 11 November. How the Democrats' new majority will affect Ukraine policy is still open, and Selenskyj's hopes depend on Congress moving toward financial or weapons support.