As old allies leave US Congress, Ukraine must find new champions

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The new Congress will have fewer pro-Ukraine champions in both chambers. The biggest losses will come in the House, particularly among Republicans.

A rainbow arches across the sky behind the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, U.S., on Nov. 6, 2026. (Drew Angerer / AFP via Getty Images)

With headlines about the blue wave in the U.S. midterm elections still dominating front pages a week later, Washington's shifting political mood is creating new challenges for Ukrainian advocates on the Hill.

The elections swept away many moderate Republicans who had long served as pillars of bipartisan support for Ukraine in Congress. There will also be changes on the Democratic side of the pro-Ukraine coalition, as some lawmakers are set to leave office in January.

The new political climate presents Ukraine with at least three challenges that require immediate attention.

It may be tempting to assume that, with a significant majority in both chambers, Democratic votes alone will be enough to enact pro-Ukraine legislation, yet relying on that assumption would be a misstep.

The new Congress will include more democratic socialists, with around 20 expected in the House of Representatives. Ukraine is unlikely to rank high on their agenda. And while progressives generally express solidarity with Kyiv, many remain skeptical about providing military assistance or imposing sectoral sanctions on Russia.

Last weekend, Washington hosted Crooked Con, a political conference that brought together progressive influencers and policymakers.

Foreign policy panels covered Iran, Israel, Palestine, Latin American countries, and even Serbia, but Ukraine was not mentioned even once. Speakers also called for broad cuts to defense spending and foreign military assistance, with more funding redirected toward domestic social programs.

Over the past several years, Ukraine has devoted considerable effort to engaging conservatives while paying relatively little attention to progressives.

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