New Congress may pressure Russia and limit Trump's ties with Moscow, expert says
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
Contacts between the US and Russia are likely to become more limited following the Democrats' victory in the congressional elections, Oleksandr Leonov, executive director of the Penta Center for Applied Political Studies, said this in a comment to RBC-Ukraine.
"We can now debate whether aid to Ukraine will be restored and on what scale. Nevertheless, the main consequence we can speak about with certainty is that there will be no more courting Russia. Obviously, opportunities for Putin, for example, to discuss joint economic projects with Trump through Dmitriev will diminish, I believe. And therefore, this track is most likely to be scaled back," Leonov said.
According to him, Congress may begin putting pressure on Russia through legislative initiatives amid Russia's continued strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and the killing of civilians.
"For example, one option that has not yet been used: I would like the Ukrainian ambassador to start engaging with bipartisan representatives in the future Congress and Senate right now (if there were one) on designating Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism," Leonov emphasized.
Congress will also act as a check if Trump launches a new round of war with Iran. According to the expert, a resumption of hostilities is possible as an act of desperation by the US president, but the question is whether he will dare to do it.
"Escalation is possible in principle. But the problem is that, for example, this war would require additional funding. And would Trump get that money even from this Congress? Let's remember that Republicans said that if Trump continues courting Russia through diesel fuel deals and so on, they simply will not vote for it," Leonov stressed.
US elections
As a reminder, following the November 4, 2026, midterm elections, the Democratic Party secured majorities in both chambers of the US Congress.
In particular, Democrats won 227 seats in the House of Representatives, exceeding the 218 needed for a majority, and secured 54 seats in the Senate, compared with 42 for Republicans.
US President Donald Trump has already acknowledged the election results and said he was ready to work with Democrats.
At the same time, the US leader made clear that he had no intention of making concessions on issues he disagrees with. He also pointed to the presidential veto power, which allows him to block bills passed by Congress.
