"Democrats will strengthen support for Ukraine and bring U.S. closer to Europe": Lithuania welcomed the results of congressional elections
Lithuanian Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas welcomed the preliminary results of the U.S. midterm elections. He expressed hope that the Democratic Party’s victory would lead to more active support for Ukraine, closer cooperation between Washington and the European Union, and the strengthening of Lithuania’s security.
This was reported by the Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT, according to Censor.NET.
"I think we will have a more balanced position from the United States, especially regarding support for Ukraine and cooperation with the European Union. Until now, that policy has been somewhat more isolationist, meaning America first and other matters taking a back seat," Olekas told the radio Žinių Radijas.
According to him, the election results could have a positive impact on addressing Lithuania’s security issues, as well as on trade relations with the United States.
Olekas noted that the policies of President Donald Trump’s administration have directly affected Lithuania. In particular, he mentioned the slowdown in the rotation of U.S. troops in the region, uncertainty regarding further military aid to Ukraine, and the trade tariffs imposed by Washington.
"I hope the election results will be more favourable to the Lithuanian people", the Speaker of the Sejm emphasized.
According to NBC News projections, following the midterm elections on November 3, the Democrats could gain control of both chambers of the U.S. Congress—the Senate and the House of Representatives. The party is also expected to secure its largest majority in the House of Representatives in nearly two decades.
At the same time, Olekas emphasized the need to respect the choice of American citizens and expressed hope that Trump and the new Congress will be able to find compromises despite political differences.
According to him, although the U.S. president had previously warned of a possible blockade of initiatives by his political opponents, Trump’s latest statements may indicate a greater willingness to reach agreements.
Lithuania expects discussions on Ukraine to intensify
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys also suggested that the results of the U.S. election would lead to more active discussions on support for Ukraine.
"It is likely that the debate over support for Ukraine in the U.S. will intensify, and I hope it will be more lively. Perhaps there will be more talk about Russia again. And perhaps this position will be much closer to the European one," Budrys said.
At the same time, the Lithuanian foreign minister emphasized that the election results will have no direct impact on relations between Lithuania and the United States, as the two countries have strong and deep bilateral ties.
