Democratic Congress Sets Up Showdown With Trump Over Ukraine Aid and Russia Sanctions

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Democrats who won control of both chambers of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections are preparing to push new military and financial aid for Ukraine, setting up a major clash with President Donald Trump, who has largely halted direct US assistance to Kyiv. Democratic aides say supporting Ukraine is a priority, and once the new Congress is seated in January, Democrats will control which bills come up for a vote and when.

Veto fight ahead

The central obstacle remains Trump's veto power. Overriding a presidential veto requires two-thirds majorities in both the House and Senate, but Ukraine has historically enjoyed strong support from Democrats and many Republicans, raising the possibility that a new aid package could clear that threshold. The final size of the Democratic majorities has not yet been determined.

Kyiv welcomed the election result. "We expect new dynamics... We expect new steps to support Ukraine," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Thursday at a press conference in Bucharest.

Russia sanctions backlash

Democrats are also expected to target Trump's easing of pressure on Moscow. Weeks after signing sanctions on Russian diesel and Russian energy into law, Trump lifted or waived them, angering many lawmakers, including Republicans.

Representative Gregory Meeks of New York, who is likely to chair the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has introduced bipartisan legislation to block Trump's plan to bring Russian diesel back to the global market.

Iran war as second flashpoint

The war with Iran, which Trump launched alongside Israel on February 28 without congressional approval, is expected to be another major foreign policy fight. A resolution to end the fighting unless Trump sought authorization passed both chambers with some Republican votes, but the administration ignored it.

Democrats could now cut defense spending, hold up nominations, or call public hearings to press the White House. Analysts expect the Ukraine and Iran fights to become linked in budget negotiations, with Ukraine aid potentially serving as a bargaining chip.

Aid may not arrive quickly

Any increase in assistance is unlikely to come fast, and it would not solve Ukraine's most urgent problem: a shortage of US-made Patriot interceptors needed to protect cities and energy infrastructure this winter. Trump has also vowed to veto any Democratic measure regardless of the issue, though some analysts remain optimistic that bipartisan support for Ukraine will prevail.

Political analyst Rafael Bernal told France 24 that Trump has pledged to veto Democratic legislation, while Colorado State University professor Ernesto Sagás called the midterm result "very good news for Ukraine," saying it is "very likely" that Democrats and many Republicans will vote for more aid.