Russian leader Vladimir Putin may have offered US President Donald Trump assistance in the upcoming congressional elections in exchange for decisions favorable to the Kremlin regarding Ukraine. This could explain the contradictory actions of the US administration and its growing pressure on Kyiv.
Ukrainian political analyst Oleksandr Leonov suggested this in an interview with the Ukrainian Information Service (USI).
According to the expert, Bloomberg previously reported on possible promises by Putin to help Trump secure an election victory. Leonov believes the American president may have taken such an offer seriously, particularly given the unfavorable forecasts for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections.
The analyst pointed out that Republicans losing control of one or both chambers of Congress could significantly complicate the remainder of Trump’s presidency.
“I think Trump may have seized on Putin’s promise, which is why he is now doing things that defy all logic,” Leonov stated.
At the same time, the expert emphasized that the US president’s policies are already causing dissatisfaction not only among Democrats but also within the Republican Party. According to Leonov, some of Trump’s fellow Republicans view his actions as a betrayal of America’s commitments to its allies.
Pressure on Ukraine instead of Russia
Leonov believes Washington is gradually running out of tools to influence the Kremlin while continuing to exploit Ukraine’s dependence on American military support.
The political analyst noted that the United States no longer provides Ukraine with direct financial and military assistance at previous levels, while a significant portion of weapons deliveries now takes place through sales.
Ukraine’s need for PAC-3 interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems remains particularly urgent, as these missiles are essential for intercepting Russian ballistic missiles. However, American stockpiles of such weapons are limited.
“This is effectively the only leverage he has left,” the expert stated, commenting on Trump’s policy toward Kyiv.
Leonov also questioned whether the American president is genuinely interested in receiving comprehensive information about Russian attacks on Ukraine.
In his view, Trump could obtain such information regardless of the efforts of Ukrainian diplomats if he truly wanted to know what was happening.
Congressional elections could change the situation
The political analyst believes the US midterm elections could become a decisive factor in shaping Washington’s future policy toward Ukraine.
If Democrats secure a majority in at least one chamber of Congress, lawmakers could gain greater influence over White House decisions.
However, Leonov cautioned against expecting immediate changes, as the newly elected Congress will not begin its work until January.
The expert also suggested that a potential Republican defeat could intensify internal divisions within the party and raise questions about Trump’s political responsibility for the election results.
According to Leonov, Ukraine needs to strengthen its engagement with American politicians from both parties, journalists, and the broader public to ensure that information about Russian attacks and the consequences of Washington’s decisions reaches US audiences as quickly as possible.
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