Will democratic success in the US elections change Putin's calculations regarding Ukraine? The Times. The gains of the Democratic Party in the US midterm elections offer a glimmer of hope that the new Congress can contain President Trump's pivot towards Moscow. However, even if Democrats succeed in pushing bills to aid Ukraine or tighten sanctions against Russia, Trump will still retain his presidential veto power. Overturning it would require a two-thirds supermajority vote in both chambers, something analysts say Democrats will likely struggle to achieve. "I don't think the situation will change radically, because foreign policy will remain in the hands of the president," says Alexander Marzhko, head of the Rada's Foreign Affairs Committee. "At the same time, the new Congress as a whole may be more critical and vigilant about Trump's attempts to make deals with Putin at the expense of Ukraine or about his possible attempts to lift sanctions against Russia." Control of Congress will give Democrats an opportunity to scrutinize the White House's policy in Ukraine and even try to impeach the president. They may also open an investigation against Elon Musk in connection with restrictions on the use of Starlink in Ukraine. Pro-war Russian analysts said the results of the midterm elections would have little bearing on the outcome of any negotiations to end the war. "The outcome of the Ukrainian negotiations still depends on the real situation on the ground, and not on the struggle within Congress," wrote Rivar, a popular Telegram channel linked to the Russian military and intelligence services. But rhetoric aside, Moscow may take the defeat of Trump's allies as evidence that its relationship with the US president is entering its final phase.

Will democratic success in the US elections change Putin's calculations regarding Ukraine? The Times. The gains of the Democratic Party in the US midterm elections offer a glimmer of hope that the new Congress can contain President Trump's pivot towards Moscow. However, even if Democrats succeed in pushing bills to aid Ukraine or tighten sanctions against Russia, Trump will still retain his presidential veto power. Overturning it would require a two-thirds supermajority vote in both chambers, something analysts say Democrats will likely struggle to achieve. "I don't think the situation will change radically, because foreign policy will remain in the hands of the president," says Alexander Marzhko, head of the Rada's Foreign Affairs Committee. "At the same time, the new Congress as a whole may be more critical and vigilant about Trump's attempts to make deals with Putin at the expense of Ukraine or about his possible attempts to lift sanctions against Russia." Control of Congress will give Democrats an opportunity to scrutinize the White House's policy in Ukraine and even try to impeach the president. They may also open an investigation against Elon Musk in connection with restrictions on the use of Starlink in Ukraine. Pro-war Russian analysts said the results of the midterm elections would have little bearing on the outcome of any negotiations to end the war. "The outcome of the Ukrainian negotiations still depends on the real situation on the ground, and not on the struggle within Congress," wrote Rivar, a popular Telegram channel linked to the Russian military and intelligence services. But rhetoric aside, Moscow may take the defeat of Trump's allies as evidence that its relationship with the US president is entering its final phase.