Kremlin calls Democratic Congress 'America's internal matter', counts on Trump's 'peacemaking'

Moscow has responded cautiously to the Democrats’ victory in the US midterm elections, The Moscow Times and Meduza reported.

What the Kremlin said

• Asked whether a Democratic-controlled Congress could hinder US diplomacy on Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the outcome “America’s internal matter”.
• He said President Trump will continue his term and that Moscow “sincerely” counts on him to continue his “peacemaking efforts”.
• Peskov pointed to an upcoming round of trilateral negotiations and to what he called Melania Trump’s humanitarian efforts, and said Moscow hopes all of this will continue.

The context

White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected in Abu Dhabi next week to mediate talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations, scheduled for 10–11 November. Ukraine and Russia remain far apart on key issues, including territory and post-war security guarantees, according to The Moscow Times; Moscow continues to demand that Ukraine cede Donbas and has rejected Western-backed proposals for a full and unconditional ceasefire that Kyiv supports, the Kyiv Independent noted.

The immediate implications of the new Congress for US policy on Russia and Ukraine remain unclear. The new majorities take their seats in January 2027. The Moscow Times also reported that Trump may hold a trilateral summit with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping later this month, though officials in Moscow say preparations are still under discussion.