Residents in Kyiv said on Wednesday (November 4) they did not expect the Democratic victories in the United States' midterm elections to dramatically change Washington's stance toward Ukraine.

Democrats seized control of both the Senate and House on Tuesday (November 3), scoring sweeping victories in Republican strongholds for the first time in generations as tens of millions of voters delivered a scathing rebuke to President Donald Trump.

Some expressed hope that US military aid, financed by Europe, would continue, while others stressed that Ukraine's own diplomatic efforts would be just as important as backing from its allies.

Most said they expected any changes in US policy to be gradual rather than immediate.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

KYIV, UKRAINE (NOVEMBER 4, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS TOP SHOTS OF TRAFFIC IN CENTRAL KYIV / AUDIO OF AIR RAID ALERT

2. PEOPLE WALKING PAST LEAVES ON GROUND

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) LOCAL RESIDENT, ZOYA DENYSOVA, 71 YEARS OLD, SAYING:

"Almost nothing will change for us."

JOURNALIST ASKING (Ukrainian): "Why do you think that?"

"Well, I've lost trust in everyone by now, in the Democrats, and especially in our own politicians. A lot depends on the United States, but even more depends on our diplomacy, and we don't really have any diplomacy at all. Diplomacy in sneakers is no substitute for real diplomacy."

4. RED TRAFFIC LIGHT, CARS DRIVING BY

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) LOCAL RESIDENT, ZOYA DENYSOVA, 71 YEARS OLD, SAYING:

"Maybe we'll still get more weapons with Europe's support. If Europe continues to support us, we'll receive more weapons. And any negotiations will only move forward with Europe's backing. That's it. I don't have much hope for anything else."

6. TEACHER, IRYNA KHYZHNYAK, 55 YEARS OLD, AND MEDICAL WORKER, ANASTASIIA POBEREZHETS, 49 YEARS OLD, CROSSING STREET

7. LEAVES / PEOPLE WALKING

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) TEACHER, IRYNA KHYZHNYAK, 55 YEARS OLD, AND MEDICAL WORKER, ANASTASIIA POBEREZHETS, 49 YEARS OLD, SAYING:

KHYZHNYAK: "I don't know how anything could change his (Trump's) mind, but we hope for the best."

POBEREZHETS: "We hope, but we're not expecting immediate results. There won't be any instant changes."

9. PEOPLE CROSSING STREET

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UNIVERSITY TEACHER, OLEKSANDR MUSIYENKO, 69 YEARS OLD, SAYING:

"(Former US) President (Joe) Biden was more supportive of Ukraine. I believe that if the Democrats win, the United States will be more supportive of Ukraine."

11. CARS DRIVING

12. PARK, UKRAINIAN FLAG