Congress gains leverage; Trump’s Ukraine course persists — SkimNews
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- Democrats took control of Congress after a sweeping midterm victory that delivered a major blow to Trump and the Republican Party, though they are unlikely to put Ukraine front and center while focusing on a candidate and program to win the White House in 2028.
- Trump cut crucial intelligence about Russian strikes to Kyiv before it was reinstated, reduced military aid and suspended several Russia sanctions; Zelensky said the rollback helped Russia, while Trump cited U.S. interests and lower gas prices as electoral benefits.
- James Green said Congress can slow the Trump administration’s foreign-policy “car” through hearings, subpoenas and control of the purse, but is unlikely to change its route over the next two years because the president retains substantial foreign-policy powers.
- Pew Research Center found in 2025 that 67% of Americans distrust Putin and six in 10 view Russia as an enemy, even as many Democrats and some Republicans have championed Ukraine.
- Peskov said Russia hopes to finalize a U.S.–China–Russia summit at the APEC meeting in China later in November; Trump said Ukraine would be discussed and he would meet anyone to end the war.
- Institute for the Study of War assessed that Russia’s advantage in Ukrainian skies is temporary, reflecting jet-powered drones and a shortage of Patriot missiles; unless Western aid dries up entirely, Russian victory is not inevitable and the war is likely to continue.
- Ukraine would be absent from the great-power settlement under discussion, which would involve Ukraine losing 20% of its territory; an emboldened Democratic Congress is almost certain not to accept such a deal.
Why it matters: Democrats now control the instruments Congress can use—hearings, subpoenas and appropriations—but the presidency retains substantial foreign-policy authority. The concrete stakes are 67% of Americans distrusting Putin and a great-power settlement involving Ukraine losing 20% of its territory, which gives Democrats a direct line of attack on Trump.
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