Dmitry Medvedev discusses US elections, Ukraine, and Iran

Russian Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev commented on the implications of the US midterm elections for Russian interests, specifically regarding Ukraine and sanctions. Medvedev noted that while discussions with the current US administration regarding Ukraine are ongoing, he suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy might act more independently toward a potentially weakened US presidency.

Medvedev stated that while Donald Trump could restrict Ukraine’s access to Starshield or intelligence sharing, he believes Trump will avoid unnecessary confrontations with Democrats. Regarding sanctions, Medvedev suggested that Democrats may promise more active support for Kyiv, but implementing such policies would require legislative approval.

Separately, analyst Trita Parsi warned that pro-war factions in Washington and Israel may view the next two months as a final window for Trump to act before Democrats gain more control over Congress in January. Parsi noted that political pressure to avoid war via economic stability may decrease, and suggested that Trump’s personal desire for retribution could increase the risk of escalated tensions with Iran if negotiations do not yield decisive progress soon.