The Kremlin expects no change in US policy on Ukraine after the congressional election

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on the congressional election again in front of journalists on 5 November. The basis is projections according to which the Democrats win the Senate and the House of Representatives. There is no official final result yet.

According to the state government newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta (11:31 CET), Peskov called the change of majority in Congress an internal affair of the US. Trump will continue to exercise his powers and set foreign policy; that is a matter for the head of state. Because of the new majority, the Kremlin expects no change in the US approach to resolving the Ukraine conflict or on other key issues. The newspaper does not give a direct quote.

The portal Gazeta.Ru (11:17 CET) reports that Peskov was asked whether the election could influence the Kremlin's thinking on Ukraine. He replied that Russia's interests in Ukraine cannot depend on the state of affairs in the US.

The Kremlin-friendly portal Vzglyad (11:17 CET) reports the same statement without reference to the election: Russia's interests will be secured militarily or peacefully, peacefully if someone in Kyiv shows political will.

The day before, the Kremlin had already called the election an internal affair of the US and expressed hope for further mediation by Trump. This is the view of the Russian leadership. Further reactions are under Reports, what the new Congress can do from January is in the timeline.