In brief: Kyiv expects a shift in US support for Ukraine following the conclusion of midterm elections, in which Republicans suffered sweeping losses. Speaking during a conference in Bucharest on Thursday, Nov. 5, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Ukraine’s security is inseparable from that of the US, while claiming that Russia is showing no real sign of serious interest in negotiations. President Volodymyr Zelensky separately told German media ZDF that the election outcome would strengthen congressional backing for Ukraine.
Kyiv expects a significant shift in US support for Ukraine following the congressional midterm elections which brought Republicans sweeping losses across the country.
Speaking during a press conference in Bucharest on Thursday, Nov. 5, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described Ukraine’s security as inseparable from that of the US.
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“We are needed by the United States, because our security is inextricably linked” to their’s, Sybiha said when asked what Ukraine expects from the election results.
His remarks came only a day after several incumbents opposed to aid for Ukraine had lost their seats in US congressional races.
‘New role’ for Europe
While Ukraine continues to rely on American leadership in peace efforts and welcomes Washington’s role, Sybiha called for Europe’s position to be more clearly defined in the process.
“We need the leadership of the United States,” he said, adding that Europe’s diplomatic track should complement “the main, American, one.”
According to Sybiha, Ukraine’s delegation in Abu Dhabi will focus on security issues, confidence-building measures and the possible agenda for a future meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
The Nov. 10-11 trilateral talks, held between Ukraine, Russia and the US, will be the first such meeting since February, with post-war security arrangements expected to dominate the agenda.
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No sign of Russian readiness, Sybiha says
Asked whether US President Donald Trump’s involvement in the negotiations could change after the elections, Sybiha said Kyiv is ready to move forward but noted that progress heavily depends on Moscow.
“We have concrete proposals. But it is necessary to put pressure on Russia,” he said, adding that Ukraine is seeking to maintain the current diplomatic momentum and use every opportunity to accelerate peace efforts.
However, in his view, the Kremlin has shown no real interest. “We see no signs of Russia’s willingness to engage in serious negotiations, neither on the ground nor on the battlefield,” Sybiha said.
A just and lasting peace, according to the foreign minister, can only be reached by increasing pressure and sanctions on Russia, while strengthening Ukraine’s defenses and establishing a deterrence package against future aggression.
Separately on Thursday, Zelensky confirmed that representatives of the EU, NATO and the US had all taken part in Nov. 4-5 discussions in Brussels on security guarantees for Ukraine.
The discussions were held as preparation for the upcoming trilateral talks.
“It’s crucial that everything is clearly defined in writing, so that there is a clear understanding of the outcome,” he said, explaining that Ukrainians need to know who would act, how and when if Russia were to attack again.
Zelensky has previously stated that Kyiv expects US security commitments modeled on NATO’s Article 5, with any American guarantees backed by a vote in Congress.
Democrats signal stronger support
Zelensky offered a similar assessment of the US support in an interview with German broadcaster ZDF, excerpts of which he published on his official Telegram channel on Thursday.
Elections in the US, he said, send clear signals that the Democratic Party would prioritize Russia’s war against Ukraine alongside domestic issues.
“We have bipartisan support. I am grateful to both Democrats and Republicans for this,” Zelensky said, adding that Democrats had spoken especially clearly about providing assistance to Kyiv during the campaign.
He argued that ties between the US and Europe have weakened over the past two years, while expressing hope that a new balance of power in Washington could translate into greater support for Kyiv.
“This alliance is very important to us, because without it, it is very difficult to stop Putin,” Zelensky said.
Should Congress move toward financial assistance or weapons deliveries comparable to those European partners are now providing to Ukraine, it could prove as a turning point for Moscow.
Such a shift, Zelensky argued, would bring the sides closer to negotiations and a possible peace settlement by pressuring Putin to reconsider continuing the war.
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