Germany cautiously optimistic on US aid for Ukraine after midterms

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Wednesday expressed cautious hope for fresh momentum regarding US support for Ukraine, after Democrats took control of both chambers of Congress in the country's midterm elections in a crushing blow to President Donald Trump.

"I am somewhat confident that there will now be more discussions in Congress, including between the two parties, about what can be done jointly to support Ukraine," Wadephul said on the sidelines of a parliamentary session in Berlin.

The German top diplomat noted that there were staunch supporters of Ukraine among both Democrats and Republicans in Congress who clearly recognize that Russia’s war on Ukraine threatens not only security and freedom in Europe, but also in the United States. 

"Perhaps this also presents a new opportunity to launch a new initiative in one area or another," he said.

EU top diplomat hopes new Congress will back Ukraine

Separately, the European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, expressed hope that the new Democrat-controlled legislature will continue supporting Ukraine.

"US voters have made their choice clear. I hope that the new Congress and the new Senate will continue supporting Ukraine and also putting more pressure on Russia."

Under Trump, who took office for a second term in January 2025, the US have significantly scaled back military aid for Ukraine, meaning Germany has since become the country's biggest supplier of weapons.

In a bid to bring down gas prices ahead of the midterms, Trump recently struck a deal with Moscow to buy Russian diesel despite long-running sanctions on Russian energy exports, a move that was widely denounced in Kiev and Brussels.