Democrats mull Biden-style pivot on Ukraine – FT

The Democrats are seeking to revive Biden-era policies even before the new Congress convenes in January, with energy assistance being “really, really high on our list,” an unnamed aide told the newspaper.

The party could reportedly seek to attach Ukraine-related provisions, including support for its energy infrastructure and air defenses, to the annual National Defense Authorization Act.

However, any new legislation will be complicated by the Republicans retaining control of both chambers until January, and Trump’s potential veto of new bills afterwards.

Sanctions and investigations

According to the paper, another major priority is tightening sanctions against Moscow, particularly by amending legislation championed by the late Republican Senator and anti-Russian hawk Lindsey Graham.

Trump signed the bill in September but subsequently waived major provisions, arguing that enforcing them would interfere with efforts to negotiate a settlement.

Democrats are additionally considering putting pressure on key Trump officials, including investigations into the business interests of presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, both of whom spearheaded Ukraine conflict mediation efforts and diplomatic overtures to Moscow.

They also reportedly want greater scrutiny of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network, which Ukrainian forces rely on for communications.

US support context

Washington has already poured enormous resources into Ukraine under former US President Joe Biden. Since 2022, Congress has appropriated more than $196 billion related to the conflict, including military aid, US stockpile replenishment, and economic support.

Although American support for Kiev initially enjoyed broad bipartisan backing, a growing number of Republicans subsequently opposed what they called Biden’s “blank-check” policies.

Trump himself has blasted Biden over what he called excessive spending on Ukraine and has resisted approving new US-funded aid packages. His administration has instead focused on selling American weapons to European NATO members, who then transferred them to Kiev.

The Trump administration has suspended some assistance on a couple of occasions, including in the aftermath of his heated row with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky in the Oval Office in February 2025.

Zelensky, meanwhile, claimed on Thursday that the US had failed to deliver $16 billion in previously promised assistance to Kiev, insisting that Ukraine “must fight” to secure the outstanding funds.

Moscow has repeatedly denounced Western arms shipments to Kiev, arguing they only prolong the conflict without changing its outcome.