Kremlin expects Trump to press ahead with Ukraine talks despite Democratic gains
Moscow says trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi will proceed as scheduled, even as Russian officials debate the impact of the U.S. midterm results on future diplomacy.
By Oliver Bennett ·
Russian officials stated on Saturday that the United States election results will not halt ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the administration intends to continue its peace initiatives regardless of the change in congressional leadership. He noted that groundwork for a settlement is already in place.
Peskov confirmed that a new round of trilateral talks involving Russian, Ukrainian, and U.S. representatives is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He expressed hope that these negotiations would proceed as planned. The spokesperson also praised the humanitarian efforts led by First Lady Melania Trump, specifically citing the recent limited ceasefire around the occupied city of Oleshky. That truce allowed for the delivery of aid and the evacuation of some residents.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s team has recently taken actions that appeared to favor Moscow in negotiations. Last month, the U.S. struck a deal to import Russian diesel fuel, a move that reversed years of pressure on the Kremlin. This agreement caused concern in Ukraine and among European allies. President Trump also paused sweeping new sanctions on the Russian economy, telling Congress the pause was in the national interest. Lawmakers from both parties criticized the move as benefiting Putin.
The diesel deal faced complications this week when U.S. federal and state officials warned that handling shipments could lead to legal consequences. Two U.S.-bound tankers changed course in response. The Kremlin downplayed the issue, stating that deliveries will continue. Separately, Ukraine reported a temporary reduction in the capacity of Starshield, the military-grade satellite internet service. While Trump denied direct responsibility, the move was widely viewed as pressure on Kyiv’s battlefield communications.
Ukraine continues to seek rapid delivery of U.S.-made Patriot interceptors to counter Russian ballistic missile attacks. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly requested faster shipments, but U.S. stockpiles are low due to the Iran war. The Trump administration approved a proposed $2.1 billion sale of these interceptors on October 30 after Kyiv accused the Pentagon of delays. Zelenskyy suggested that the new Democratic-controlled Congress could accelerate this assistance.
Russian political figures are divided on the long-term impact of the U.S. election. Dmitry Medvedev, a deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, predicted that Trump would be less inclined to press Ukraine because he no longer needs to manage relations with Democrats. Conversely, analyst Abbas Gallyamov argued that Putin missed a window of opportunity to strike a deal before the Democrats took office. Gallyamov wrote that Putin’s prospects have worsened as the window closes.
Other experts caution against expecting a dramatic shift in U.S. policy. Jorn Fleck of the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center said that while Democrats may push for more funding, they face constitutional limits on restricting the president’s foreign policy powers. He suggested that Trump, unshackled from immediate electoral concerns, might focus intensely on deal-making to secure a legacy. Konstantin Kosachev, a deputy speaker of the Russian upper house, agreed that the president’s role remains paramount. Kosachev warned that Kyiv and European allies should expect a more resolute Trump who is no longer looking over his shoulder at upcoming elections.
