Zelensky says Russia fired 115 missiles and 3,000 drones in a week as Democrats weigh a $15 billion Ukraine aid package

Russia launched 115 missiles and 3,000 drones at Ukraine in the past week, Ukrainian President Zelensky said⁵. Only four of 36 Russian missiles were intercepted, Zelensky said, as he warned of a critical shortage of Patriot systems⁶. Following the discussion, Ukrainian officials identified priorities for expanding their deployment, and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha delivered a separate report⁶.

As fresh peace talks loom, Russian President Vladimir Putin is escalating his efforts to shatter Ukraine’s economy³.

In Moscow, the Kremlin said it hopes the US election shake-up will not shift President Donald Trump’s negotiations on Ukraine¹. The Kremlin expressed hope that Trump will continue to pursue his peace efforts².

Why it matters to investors

The midterm result is changing the US side of the equation. Congressional Democrats are weighing a $15 billion Ukraine aid package⁷. The proposed assistance could reach $15 billion and would increase congressional oversight of Trump’s foreign policy decisions⁹. The package would include backing for Ukraine’s power grid⁸.

Democrats also plan to examine the commercial activities of presidential special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner⁷. Lawmakers plan to investigate the envoys’ business interests and their diplomatic activities⁸.

For Trump, the war in Ukraine now sits alongside the conflict with Iran as a test of a weakened presidency, with Trump having threatened to resume military action⁴. The Kremlin’s public hope that the election will not change the talks¹ contrasts with Democratic plans for more aid and closer oversight⁹.

What to watch

The first marker is the pace of Russian strikes. The weekly count of 115 missiles and 3,000 drones⁵ and the low interception rate Zelensky reported⁶ show the pressure on Ukraine’s air defenses as Putin targets the economy³.

The second is the peace talks, where Moscow is betting on continuity in Trump’s approach^1,2.

The third is Congress. Whether the $15 billion package advances^7,9, and whether the planned scrutiny of Witkoff and Kushner⁸ goes ahead, will show how far the new majority can reshape US policy on the war.

The fourth is air defense supply. Zelensky’s warning of a critical shortage of Patriot systems⁶ comes as Ukraine sets priorities for expanding their deployment, and any decision on more aid from Washington⁹ would bear directly on that gap.