Trump’s Ukraine Policy Unshaken by Midterm Losses — SkimNews
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- Trump rolled back US support for Ukraine before the midterms, cutting crucial intelligence sharing and military aid, which was later reinstated, and justified by citing national interest and potential electoral benefits.
- Trump suspended several sanctions on Russia, a move criticized by President Zelensky as aiding Moscow, while Trump claimed it could help lower gas prices and benefit his party electorally.
- Congress has limited power to redirect US foreign policy, according to James Green, as presidential authority as commander-in-chief and control of the foreign policy apparatus outweigh legislative influence over the next two years.
- Democrats won a sweeping victory in the midterms but are unlikely to prioritize Ukraine, focusing instead on rebuilding their electoral strategy for 2028, though they may leverage Trump’s Russia stance for political gain.
- Putin may exploit Trump’s weakened position by proposing a settlement on Ukraine during upcoming US-China-Russia talks at the Apec summit, potentially sidelining Kyiv in negotiations.
- Military experts and the Institute for the Study of War assess that a Russian victory is not inevitable if Western aid continues, despite temporary Russian advantages in drone warfare and missile capabilities.
Why it matters: Trump retains outsized control over US foreign policy despite electoral setbacks, meaning his pro-Russia tilt and skepticism toward Ukraine aid could persist, undermining Kyiv’s position and increasing pressure on Congress to act—yet with Democrats focused on 2028, meaningful pushback may stall even as 67% of Americans distrust Putin.
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