MOSCOW, December 20 (ANI): Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said European elites are counting on the upcoming US midterm elections in the hope of a political shift that would bring Washington’s traditional allies back to power and increase pressure on US President Donald Trump, Russia Today reported.
Putin made the remarks during his annual “Direct Line” end-of-year press conference in Moscow, a four-and-a-half-hour question-and-answer session with citizens and journalists.
The next US midterm elections are scheduled for November 3, 2026, and will take place during President Trump’s second term. Voters will elect all 435 members of the US House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 members of the US Senate, determining the composition of the 120th US Congress.
Historically, US midterm elections have tended to work against the sitting president, with the party in power often losing seats in Congress as voters use the polls to express dissatisfaction with the administration.
During the event, Putin addressed a wide range of international issues, including the European Union’s efforts to use Russia’s frozen central bank assets, NATO’s eastward expansion, and security arrangements linked to potential elections in Ukraine as part of peace initiatives.
He said Russia seeks peace and stability but stressed that any lasting solution must address what Moscow views as the root causes of the conflict.
“We, too, would very much like to live in peace next year, free of any military conflicts,” Putin said. “We need to eliminate the root causes of the conflict so that peace is long-lasting and sustainable.”
Speaking on relations with NATO, Putin accused the alliance of breaking earlier assurances. “There won’t be any military operations if you treat us with respect and respect our interests,” he said, adding that while Russia does not deny countries the right to defend themselves, such actions should not threaten others.
Putin also warned against any attempt to block Kaliningrad, calling it a serious risk of escalation. “If we are threatened in this way, we will eliminate these threats,” he said, warning that such steps could push the conflict to a much larger and more dangerous level.
Despite heightened tensions, Putin said Russia remains open to cooperation with Western nations, including Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States, provided relations are based on equality and mutual respect. “If we ultimately reach this point, everyone will benefit,” he said, according to Russia Today.
On US-brokered peace efforts related to Ukraine, Putin said responsibility now lies with Western countries and Kyiv’s leadership. “The ball is entirely in the court of our Western opponents, primarily the leaders of the Kyiv regime and their European sponsors,” he said, adding that Russia remains open to negotiations and a peaceful settlement.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday emphasized the importance of resilience in weakening Russia’s ability to prolong the war, linking sustained pressure on Moscow to prospects for peace in Europe.
“If we know — and if Putin knows — that we can stay resilient, then his reason to drag out this war becomes much weaker,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X, describing resilience as a strategic tool to alter the aggressor’s calculations and move toward peace.
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